US sitcom icon Alfonso Ribeiro has shared a glimpse of his heartbreaking final moments with the late James Van Der Beek before his death.
Tributes have poured in from former castmates and celebrity friends of the Dawson’s Creek star after he died following a battle with cancer this week.
Those to publicly share their grief include Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Riberio, who on Friday morning posted a tear-jerking picture of himself with Van Der Beek shortly before he died.
Riberio – the godfather of Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwen – was shown in the Instagram post embracing his late friend as he lay in bed.
He said the picture was taken by Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberley, “just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye”.
“My last moment was making him laugh one last time,” Ribeiro wrote in the post.
“I really miss him already.”
It comes after Riberio earlier this week paid his respects to the Dawsons Creek Star in heartfelt social media post, saying he was “so broken right now”.
“He was my true friend brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer,” Ribeiro wrote.
“His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back.”
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star said he had “learned so much” from Van Der Beek and that him and Kimberly had “changed my life”.
“I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family. He will live forever in my heart,” Riberio said.
“I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy (sic) as one of the most important roles of my life.
“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.”
Other Hollywood names to pay respects to the late actor include his Dawson’s Creeks co-star Katie Holmes, who shared a handwritten note addressed to Van Der Beek.
She described their time together as “sacred” and offered support to Kimberly and the couple’s six children.
“I formed some words with a heavy heart. This is a lot to process,” Holmes posted to Instagram alongside a picture of the heartfelt letter.
“I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey.”
It comes after Van Der Beek died aged 48 on Wednesday following a battle with bowel cancer, after having revealed his diagnosis in November 2024.
A GoFundMe set up to support the actor’s family in the wake of his death had raised over $2 million as of Friday afternoon.