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James Van Der Beek’s first posthumous birthday falls on Sunday, March 8, and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, marked the occasion with a series of sentimental Instagram Stories posts
“I’m missing you tremendously,” Kimberly said in one, sharing a photo of herself and the Dawson’s Creek alum
James died following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 48 on Feb. 11
James Van Der Beek is being remembered on his first posthumous birthday by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek.
Kimberly, 44, honored the actor — who died following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 48 on Feb. 11 — with a series of sentimental Instagram Stories posts on Sunday, March 8.
“Would be your 49th birthday today. And I’m missing you tremendously,” the producer wrote on top of one photograph of the pair.
She then shared various other photographs and videos of James, including many with their six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, plus sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
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Kimberly Van Der Beek’s Instagram Stories post.
James and Kimberly met in 2009, and they later said “I do” in August 2010. In the years to follow, they welcomed their six children together, and the family moved from Los Angeles to Texas in 2020.
The Dawson’s Creek alum first announced his cancer diagnosis exclusively with PEOPLE in November 2024, saying he was focusing on his health and family. (The cancer was discovered after a routine colonoscopy in August 2023.)
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Kimberly announced the news of James’ death through an Instagram post. Sharing a professional photo of the actor, Kimberly wrote, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
She added, “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.”
Kimberly Van Der Beek (left) and James Van Der Beek (right) in 2023.
Credit: Rick Kern/Getty
James and Kimberly renewed their wedding vows days before the Varsity Blues star died.
“We decided two days beforehand and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed,” Kimberly told PEOPLE, adding that the ceremony was “simple and beautiful and moving.”
After James’ death, a GoFundMe was created by friends of Kimberly to raise money for her family.
The fundraising page, which surpassed $1 million in less than 24 hours, is raising money for “the costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” a description states.
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