Kimberly Van Der Beek marked the family’s first Father’s Day without James Van Der Beek with a tribute to the late actor and the father he was to their six children.
The Dawson’s Creek star died on Feb. 11 at 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. On Sunday, June 21, Kimberly shared an Instagram carousel filled with photos of James with their children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
“Missing you so much and thinking of how magnificent you were in every single way today,” Kimberly wrote in the caption. “And somehow, from the other side? You continue to parent. You’re a marvel.”
The post centered on James as a father, showing him with the children in family moments rather than framing the holiday around his career. The tribute came four months after Kimberly announced his death in a separate Instagram post.
Kimberly Shared Family Photos of James With Their Children
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The Father’s Day carousel included photos of James holding, hugging and spending time with his children. Entertainment Weekly reported that the images showed him with each of the couple’s six children, including moments from the family ranch and quiet one-on-one snapshots.
James and Kimberly first met during a trip to Israel in 2009 and married the following year, according to People. They went on to welcome daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
Friends and Fans Sent Support
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played James’ mother on Dawson’s Creek, left a message of support on Kimberly’s post. “He is ‘one in a million’ … always has been … always will be,” she wrote, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Humes also shared her own Father’s Day tribute, posting a throwback image with James and John Wesley Shipp, who played his onscreen parents on the series. She encouraged people to give meaningful hugs and tell loved ones how they feel while they still have the chance.
James Had Spoken Publicly About His Cancer
James publicly revealed his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024. People reported that the cancer was discovered after a colonoscopy in 2023, after he began experiencing symptoms and decided to get checked.
After going public with the diagnosis, James spoke about focusing on his health and family. Kimberly announced his death on Feb. 11, writing that he “passed peacefully” and met his final days with “courage, faith, and grace.”
Entertainment Weekly reported that, days before his death, James and Kimberly renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony attended by their children and a few close friends.