James Van Der Beek’s cancer battle left family broke, widow says

Friends of Kimberly Van Der Beek, the widow of James Van Der Beek, have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $550,000, saying that the actor’s two-year battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer left her and their six children “out of funds” and struggling to stay in their home.

The GoFundMe was launched Wednesday, immediately following news that the “Dawson’s Creek” star had died at age 48 of complications of colorectal cancer.

“Throughout illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care,” a description of the GoFundMe campaign reads.

“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future,” the statement continues. “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”

Kimberly Van Der Beek is listed as the organizer for the GoFundMe campaign, but People magazine reported that her friends launched it on her behalf. As of Wednesday, it had raised more than $312,000 of the targeted $550,000, with an anonymous donor giving $20,000. The post went on to say that funds will cover essential living expenses, bills and support the children’s education.

Van Der Beek shared six children with Kimberly: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9½, and Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 4, People reported. In announcing her “beloved” husband’s death, Kimberly Van Der Beek wrote on Instagram that he “met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”

On his 48th birthday last March, Van Der Beek talked about facing his mortality after receiving his cancer diagnosis in 2023. In a video recorded to Instagram, he also talked about what his cancer “has taught” him about himself, while he acknowledged his disappointment that he could no longer work and be the family “provider,” nor could he always be “the helpful husband” and hands-on father when he was away for treatment. He also said he was sometimes too weak to do any upkeep on the family ranch outside Austin, Texas, where he and Kimberly moved in 2020 to get their children out of Hollywood.

“When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never really all that fulfilling,” Van Der Beek said. “And then I became a husband, and that was much better. And then I became a father, and that was the ultimate. I could define myself then, as a loving, capable, strong, supportive, husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we’re so lucky to live on. And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition to the question, ‘Who am I? What am I?'”

“And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye,” Van Der Beek continued. “And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped for me.” He said he then meditated “and the answer came through, ‘I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist.'”

The actor announced his cancer diagnosis in an interview with People magazine in November 2024. He said he was “taking steps to resolve it with the support of my incredible family.” He also said, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

Van Der Beek’s final appearance in public was during a July 2025 trip to New York City, where he appeared “relaxed and in good spirits” while interacting with fans near Rockefeller Center, Parade magazine reported.

The trip took place several weeks before Van Der Beek was supposed to join his former “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars at a reunion script reading. But in the end, he said he couldn’t be there in person and sent a virtual message instead.

“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,” Van Der Beek said. “So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.”

Van Der Beek’s friend, Lin-Manuel Miranda, stepped in to read his part. Other original cast members at the event included Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Busy Phillips.