Kimberly Van Der Beek Remembers James and His Iconic Role

Kimberly Van Der Beek has taken to social media to honor her late husband, James, known for his iconic role in “Dawson’s Creek.” Following the announcement of his passing, she shared an acoustic rendition of the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want To Wait,” originally by Paula Cole, now covered by Alana Springsteen along with Sarah Bears and Lauren LaRue.

In her heartfelt tribute, Springsteen expressed her sorrow, stating, “Poor James Van Der Beek 🙏🏻💔This loss has hit me hard today. Many young girls lived behind his work.” She also mentioned a link for donations set up by James’s friends to assist with living expenses for his family.

Paula Cole commented on the tribute, saying, “So beautiful. Tears, more tears. Thank you for honoring James and his family ❤️.” Kimberly later reshared the cover on her Instagram Story.

On Wednesday, Kimberly shared the heartbreaking news of James’s death after a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” she wrote. Her message conveyed his courage and grace in his final days and requested privacy for the family as they mourn.

Following his passing, a family friend initiated a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $500,000 to cover James’s medical expenses, emphasizing the family’s challenging financial situation after his illness. The campaign described how Kimberly, along with their six children—Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabelle, 12, Emilia, eight, Gwendolyn, six, and Jeremiah, three—now face an uncertain future.

Many A-listers showed support for the family, donating significant amounts, including Zoe Saldaña, who pledged $2,500 monthly, and Steven Spielberg, who contributed $25,000.

Interestingly, James had previously remarked that he received “almost nothing” for his role on “Dawson’s Creek,” describing the deal as unfavorable. Notably, to fund his cancer treatment, he auctioned off memorabilia from the show before his passing, having been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in August 2023.

As the family navigates through this difficult time, their community’s response showcases a powerful network of support.