Alfonso Ribeiro said goodbye to James Van Der Beek last weekend, never imagining it would be the last time.
The Dawson’s Creek star died February 11, 2026, at age 48 after stage 3 colorectal cancer consumed both his health and finances. Within hours, Hollywood friends flooded social media with tributes revealing the devastating toll of his 2.5-year battle.
Ribeiro, godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwen, watched “this rollercoaster of highs when it looked like he had it beat, to the soul-breaking lows of it coming back”. Now his widow Kimberly faces raising six children with zero savings.
The Final Numbers
- Death date: February 11, 2026
- Final age: 48 years old
- Diagnosis: August 2023 (announced November 2024)
- Stage: Stage 3 colorectal cancer
- Survivors: Wife Kimberly, 6 children
- GoFundMe raised (day 1): Over $1,000,000
- Target amount: $1.3 million
- Family status: “Out of funds,” risk of eviction
Hollywood’s Heartbreak Pours Out
Busy Philipps broke down to her 2.4 million followers: “James was one in a billion and he will be forever missed”. She immediately directed fans to the family’s GoFundMe, exposing the brutal reality that even TV stars can die broke from medical bills.
Kerr Smith, who played Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek, kept it simple: “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply”. The show ran from 1998-2003 but created lifetime bonds.
Krysten Ritter remembered working with Van Der Beek on “Don’t Trust the B—-“ where he played a hilarious version of himself. “Beautiful human inside and out. Smart, empathic, kind, talented and just pure magic,” she wrote.
Chad Michael Murray called him “a giant” whose “words, art and humanity inspired all of us”. Sarah Michelle Gellar added: “James’s legacy will always live on—this is a loss not just for your family but for the world”.
The Desperate Measures Nobody Knew About
Van Der Beek was already liquidating his Hollywood past throughout 2025. He auctioned Dawson’s Creek props, costumes, and memorabilia through Propstore—items he’d saved for decades.
He sold the iconic Varsity Blues jerseys that defined his career. “With all the recent unexpected twists and turns, it feels like that time is now,” he told People magazine about the sales.
Translation: medical bills were drowning him. He promised portions would help other cancer families, even while his own family faced financial collapse.
The GoFundMe statement confirms it: “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds”. Kimberly and the six children face losing their home without continued donations.
The Cancer Killing Younger Americans
Van Der Beek was only 45 at diagnosis—younger than screening guidelines recommended at the time. He kept the August 2023 diagnosis secret for over a year, only revealing it publicly in November 2024.
Colorectal cancer is surging among Americans under 50 for reasons doctors don’t fully understand. Van Der Beek became an advocate before his death, partnering with Guardant Health to promote the FDA-approved Shield blood test for early detection.
He caught it through a colonoscopy—still the gold standard. By September 2025, he was missing public events, blaming “two stomach viruses” that caused dramatic weight loss. Those were actually cancer complications.
He Never Stopped Working
Van Der Beek filmed through it all—appearing on The Masked Singer in 2025 and shooting Amazon’s “Overcompensating” and the “Legally Blonde” prequel “Elle”. Six months before his death, he told USA TODAY that cancer “reinvigorated his love” for acting.
“I have good days and bad days,” he admitted in his final interview. The bad days eventually overwhelmed him.
During a 2024 Good Morning America appearance, he broke down discussing Kimberly’s sacrifice: “She’s amazing. She really taught me what unconditional love is”. He told Robin Roberts the illness forced him to ask for help after a lifetime of self-reliance.
Why This Matters Beyond Hollywood
Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek became a 1990s icon as Dawson Leery. His portrayal defined teen television for an entire generation.
His death exposes two American crises: rising cancer rates among young people, and medical costs that bankrupt families regardless of income. Even a successful actor who worked through treatment couldn’t keep up with the bills.
His official Instagram announced: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning”. The family emphasized he maintained “courage, faith, and grace” until the end.
The GoFundMe for Kimberly and the children continues accepting donations as fans and friends rally to provide the stability their father couldn’t despite two decades of Hollywood success.
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