James Van Der Beek died February 11, 2026, from colorectal cancer, leaving his family financially devastated.
His wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children are now relying on a GoFundMe that raised over $1 million in 24 hours after friends revealed the actor’s medical bills had drained all their savings. The campaign’s stark message: “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds”.
Van Der Beek was only 48 years old when he passed. The Dawson’s Creek star had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since his August 2023 diagnosis, though he didn’t reveal it publicly until November 2024.
What the Family Faces Now
- Age at death: 48
- Children: 6 (all school-age)
- GoFundMe raised: Over $1 million in 24 hours
- Original goal: $250,000 (increased to $1.3M)
- Financial status: “Out of funds,” risk of losing home
- Cancer type: Stage 3 colorectal cancer
- Diagnosis date: August 2023 (revealed November 2024)
The GoFundMe statement explains the family needs help keeping their home and maintaining the children’s schooling. Kimberly faces “an uncertain future” as a single mother of six.
He Was Already Selling Everything
Months before his death, Van Der Beek took drastic steps to cover treatment costs. He partnered with Propstore in 2025 to auction Dawson’s Creek memorabilia—costumes, props, and set pieces he’d saved for decades.
“With all the recent unexpected twists and turns, it feels like that time is now,” he told People magazine about selling his keepsakes. He also sold Varsity Blues jerseys, explicitly stating the money would go toward medical bills and helping other families fighting cancer.
The actor continued working through treatment, filming Amazon’s “Overcompensating” and the “Legally Blonde” prequel “Elle” despite declining health. He missed a live Dawson’s Creek pilot reading in September 2025 after “two stomach viruses” caused significant weight loss.
His Final Public Words
During a 2024 Good Morning America appearance, Van Der Beek became emotional talking about Kimberly’s support. “She’s amazing. She really taught me what unconditional love is,” he told anchor Robin Roberts.
He admitted cancer forced him to ask for help after years of independence. “The beautiful blessing of that has been seeing how many people in my life have shown up,” he said.
His official Instagram announced his death: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning”. The family emphasized he faced “his final days with courage, faith, and grace”.
Why This Matters
Van Der Beek’s case highlights a growing crisis: colorectal cancer is rising among younger Americans. He was only 45 at diagnosis—below the recommended screening age at the time.
More shocking is the financial devastation. Even a successful actor who worked through treatment couldn’t keep up with medical costs. His story reveals how cancer can bankrupt families regardless of previous earnings.
Van Der Beek partnered with Guardant Health before his death to promote early screening, including the FDA-approved Shield blood test. He detected his cancer through a colonoscopy—still the gold standard for diagnosis.
Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek became a 1990s icon playing Dawson Leery for six seasons. His role in Varsity Blues cemented his place in teen entertainment history.
He told USA TODAY six months before his death that cancer “reinvigorated his love” for acting. He admitted having “good days and bad days” but refused to stop working until the end.
The GoFundMe for his family remains active, with donations continuing to climb as fans and friends rally to support Kimberly and the children.
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