LAST MOMENTS 

Inside James Van Der Beek’s heartbreaking final days surrounded by family and celeb friends before tragic death at 48

SINCE his devastating colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2023, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek had been staring his own mortality in the face.

Yesterday he died, aged 48, in a hospice surrounded by his family and was finally at peace after a dignified and painful two years of illness.

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By the end of his life, the noughties heartthrob was physically weakened, but his mind remained resolute, and his wisdom moved his many friends and fans.

A source told the Mail: “James was on hospice for several weeks and he was rail thin when he passed.

“He was mostly in bed because he was very weak, and he was not eating.

“He was in hospice, they held his hand and were there for him, of course, but it has been hard because James was so ill, he was weak.

“He had so much charisma, he was a wonderful soul, and his presence is missed. Those poor little kids.”

It was wife Kimberley, 44, who announced James had died.

She wrote on Instagram: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.

“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.”

Celebrity friends like former WWE superstar Stacey Keibler and Alfonso Ribeiro spoke fondly of their time with James in his final days.

The Fresh Prince star shared a picture with his close pal and said: “I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.”

While Stacey, alongside a picture of her with James in a wheelchair watching the sun set, wrote: “Spending these final days with you has been a true gift from God.
I have never been so present in my life.”

Designer Erin Fetherston shared a collection of photos of James, including one of him in his hospice bed.

She wrote in her caption: “What an honor it was to have a seat at your table and to call you a best friend. The space you leave behind can never be filled, but we will do our best to shower your beautiful family with love and remember to keep dancing in your honor — because you always knew the importance of joy.”

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It has been reported that James had not received treatment for a while before his death, as there was nothing more doctors could do for his aggressive cancer, and he wanted to spend the remainder of his life in peace.

The actor’s last recurring TV role was in Disney show Vampirina. He starred in 69 episodes between 2017 and 2021. He had a further five acting credits since then, the last of which was for the 2025 film Sidelined 2: Intercepted.

James often proudly spoke of Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four.

He admitted to struggling with the physical deterioration that meant he could not be the patriarchal figure he wanted to be at the family ranch near Austin, Texas.

However, his loving presence was more than enough for his family who are said to be “totally broken” and sobbing over the loss.

While the burden on supporting the family falls on Kimberley, fans have rallied to raise $1million through a GoFundMe since James’ death to help them with costs.

Before he died, James auctioned off some of his TV memorabilia, bringing in $47,000.

James turned to his faith after his diagnosis and remained determined to fight his illness with everything he had.

In his last message to fans, recorded at New Year, he was looking ahead to a positive time ahead.

He said: “I’m going to take winter to recover, to rest, and I’m going to make New Year’s resolutions in the spring. Who’s with me?”

Following his death, another of his videos has gone viral.

Filmed early last year, James spoke openly about his struggle to define himself during the illness.

Prior to his cancer he had thought of himself as an actor, primarily, before going on to view himself as a husband and then a father – his greatest role.

But he was forced to reassess when his treatment took him away from home and he grew weaker.

“And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye,” he said. “I had to come nose to nose with death. And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.”

He continued: “And so I was faced with the question, if I am just a too skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I? I meditated, and the answer came through: I am worthy of God’s love. Simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.”

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