Why James Van Der Beek’s widow Kimberly Van Der Beek made funds appeal hours after his death?

Hollywood actor James Van Der Beek, known for his iconic role in Dawson’s Creek, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning after a long battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.

The actor had been fighting cancer since August 2023 and publicly revealed his diagnosis in November 2024. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared the sad news on Instagram, saying, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.”

She requested privacy during the grieving process, adding, “For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

Surprise Fundraising Appeal

Shortly after his death, Kimberly made a public appeal for financial support for their family. Friends of James quickly set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the family’s expenses.

According to the appeal, the Van Der Beek family had exhausted all savings on medical treatment during James’ fight with cancer. Kimberly shared the fundraiser link on social media, writing, “My friends created this link to support me and my children during this time. With gratitude and a broken heart.”

Within hours of the page going live, the campaign had already raised over $346,943 of a $550,000 target. Later reports indicated that the fund surpassed $1 million, with a new goal of $1.3 million.

Remembering James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek had a career spanning more than two decades. He became a household name with Dawson’s Creek and appeared in films and TV shows including Varsity Blues, Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, The Rules of Attraction, Ugly Betty, and How I Met Your Mother.

Fans, colleagues, and the industry expressed deep grief over his passing, remembering him not just for his acting, but for his kind and humble personality.