“16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames,” she wrote on social media
Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram
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- James Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, paid tribute to the late actor on what would have been their 16th anniversary
- “The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have,” she wrote alongside a photo of James hugging all six of their children
- The Dawson’s Creek alum was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer and died at 48 on Wednesday, Feb. 11
James Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, is remembering the late actor on what would have been their 16th anniversary.
On the couple’s first wedding anniversary since James died at age 48 following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer in February, Kimberly, 44, expressed that, 16 years ago, she was “the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames.”
Alongside several throwback photos of her and her late husband, Kimberly wrote on Instagram, “The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have.”
The Dawson’s Creek actor was a doting father to six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, and Gwendolyn, 8, and sons Joshua, 14, and Jeremiah, 4.
Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram
At the end of her emotional post, Kimberly included an old photo of James pulling each of his children into a huge hug.
“He continues to be present and guide us,” she concluded in the caption. “I’m eternally grateful. 🙏🌹😍🥰.”
Kimberly announced the tragic news of her husband’s death on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote on Instagram at the time. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. 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.”
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The actor first announced his cancer diagnosis with PEOPLE in November 2024, saying he was focusing on his health and family.
View this post on Instagram
“I have colorectal cancer,” he revealed. “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”
Three months after his death, Kimberly opened up about her grief while sharing a touching social media tribute to her late husband.
“Yesterday was three months since we lost @vanderjames. To say I’m heartbroken is a severe understatement,” she wrote on Instagram alongside several photos of James spending time with their children. “Words just don’t capture what grief is. The comforts of shock have worn off. The reality is settling in… and I miss him. We all miss him.”
“Yet, there is a different kind of magic in the air. I feel him. I know him more deeply,” she continued. “My conscious connection to God has deepened. The veils of the universe have thinned. And I trust that this is the path me and my family have always been intended to walk.”
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