Three months after actor James Van Der Beek’s death, his widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, is sharing how her family is still coping with deep grief and how their faith is helping them get through it.
Kimberly posted on Instagram about what life has been like since losing her husband to colorectal cancer at age 48.
“To say I’m heartbroken is a severe understatement,” she wrote alongside photos of James and their six 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.”
James and Kimberly married in 2010 and raised a large family together, with daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. During James’s cancer battle, Kimberly often talked about relying on faith, family, and support from their community.
In her latest update, she said she feels a spiritual closeness even while going through pain.
“There is a different kind of magic in the air,” she wrote. “I feel him. I know him more deeply. My conscious connection to God has deepened.”
Kimberly also shared that grief has changed how she sees life and eternity.
“The veils of the universe have thinned,” she added. “And I trust that this is the path me and my family have always been intended to walk.”
Her message struck a chord with fans, who filled the comments with prayers and encouragement. Kimberly thanked everyone for the support she has received since James’s death.
“I am deeply grateful,” she wrote. “There is so much more to share here. And in time — I will.”
James, who was best known for his roles in “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues,” shared in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer the year before. He told PEOPLE magazine, “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”
Even while getting treatment, James kept making public appearances and working when possible. In the final stages of his illness, he spoke openly about how hard life had become physically, emotionally, and financially.
He also started selling autographed memorabilia from “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues” to help support his family during his treatment.
In an emotional update shared in March 2025, James said he had “come nose to nose with death” and that he “could no longer be the husband that was helpful to [his] wife.”
After he passed away, Kimberly said her husband faced his final days with “courage, faith and grace.”
For many fans, her latest message is a reminder that grief and faith often go together. Even in such a great loss, Kimberly’s words showed hope in God’s presence and the belief that love lasts beyond this life.