James Van Der Beek Said Wife Kimberly Van Der Beek Taught Him 'What It Is to Live'
Before he died at age 48, Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek called his second and current wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, the "most extraordinary human," and thanked her for saving his life by teaching him "what it is to live."
In August, he wrote an anniversary tribute to Kimberly. "15 years ago today, this woman agreed to be my bride," he penned. "@vanderkimberly you are the most extraordinary human I’ve ever met. One day I’ll tell the story of what you’ve endured these last two years and how you’ve shown up, time and time and time again. You have not only saved my life… you’ve shown me what it is to live. There are no words for how much I love and appreciate you. I could not do this without you."
He concluded the post: "Happy anniversary my love ❤️" According to People, James and his wife were raising six children together. What was his cause of death? Van Der Beek died after a colorectal cancer diagnosis, which he announced in 2024, People reported.
It was Kimberly who helped announce her husband's death on February 11 in a joint post shared by both of their Instagram pages. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," the family's statement read. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Van Der Beek and his first wife, actress Heather McComb, were divorced in 2010.
James Van Der Beek's Wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, Filled Her Instagram Page With Tributes to Her Husband
Kimberly's last post before the death announcement came on January 21. It contains a photo showing her with James. "Me and my bae," she wrote, filling the caption with heart emojis.
In March, she posted another tribute to her husband on his birthday. "Happy Birthday @vanderjames. May our hearts continue to dance together for many many many many more more birthdays," she wrote.
(Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Hilarity for Charity)
"You are a treasure. I feel like the luckiest lady in the world to be married to you. May this year bring you so much laughter, dancing, deepening connection with God, exceptional health and exquisite beauty all around- plus of course- family snuggles, sunrises, sunsets, play and restorative rest."
James Van Der Beek Met His Wife in Israel
James and Kimberly met in Israel in 2009, People reported.
She worked as an associate producer on a film called Teenage Paparazzo.
In 2020, James posted another anniversary tribute to his wife, in which he explained the evolution of their relationship.
"Ten years ago today this woman made me the happiest I’d ever been. A year prior to that, I’d been famous, been wealthy, been married, been divorced, been less-than-wealthy, been single... and I was in Israel, on a trip with an organized group, when it hit me: I was done being single," he wrote.
"I wanted a real relationship. A soul mate. Someone with whom I could build a family. I was mid-revelation, rattling all this off to a friend of mine when a voice interrupted us, wanting to ask him a question. I was annoyed. Who the hell was stepping all over my moment? I turned around... it was @vanderkimberly," he added. "Three days later, I asked her what she was looking for in a relationship. Her answer: 'I’m not looking for a relationship.' Six months later we were living together. Two weeks after that we were pregnant, and almost exactly one year to the date after she’d first interrupted me (on the spot where we’re standing in the last pic)... we were married."
Van Der Beek added: "This marriage has demanded I be more present, more honest, more authentic, more open, more patient, more passionate, daring, capable, fun, and vulnerable than I’ve ever been. And I’m still earning her. We’ve been through joy and pain and everything in between, and even at the height of our most impassioned arguments... she’s who I want by my side."
He concluded: "Kimberly, you astound me. Your bravery, your tenderness, and your unwillingness to settle for anything less than what can and ought to be.... You’re the best human I know. I love you, and I look forward to earning your partnership for years to come. (And also that huge party/vow renewal in the woods I’ve been promising you for ten years - once we’re out of pandemic protocol ????) Happy anniversary babe ❤️"