In the final days of his life, actor James Van Der Beek shared one more sacred milestone with the woman he called his “best adventure partner.” Just two days before his death at age 48, the Dawson’s Creek star and his wife Kimberly renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony held in their bedroom — a moment she now describes as both simple and profoundly moving.
“Our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed,” Kimberly told People. The ceremony came together quickly with the help of loved ones who gathered in person and over Zoom. Their friend Poranguí, a multi-instrumentalist, played what Kimberly called the “most beautiful music,” closing the ceremony with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“It was simple and beautiful and moving,” she said.
The quiet vow renewal was a fitting reflection of a marriage that had endured both joy and deep hardship. James and Kimberly first met on a trip to Israel in 2009 and married a year later in Tel Aviv. Reflecting on their wedding years later, James recalled the spontaneity and spiritual sense of destiny that marked the day. Kimberly had dreamed of a man officiating their wedding on a specific date — and remarkably, he was available. “We rushed to get ready, had a bunch of people we didn’t know (and a few we did) dance around us … then ate at an outdoor Lebanese dive with plastic tablecloths and chairs and amazing food,” James wrote. “We’ve gone through success, tragedy, joy, stress, triumph, uncertainty, and through it all … these have been the best years of my life. Every moment. Because I have the BEST adventure partner.”
Together, the couple built a large, faith-centered family, welcoming six children over the course of their marriage. In August 2023, James publicly shared that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Over the following year, he continued working on projects and even began a memoir, but his health declined. He died on Feb. 11.
Announcing his passing, Kimberly emphasized the spiritual strength that defined his final season. “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” she wrote on Instagram. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.”
The couple’s decision to renew their vows from bed speaks to the depth of their bond — a declaration that even as his body weakened, their covenant remained strong. For Kimberly, the ceremony created a sacred space of closure and devotion amid grief. For James, it appears to have been a final opportunity to reaffirm the promises that shaped his life’s greatest love.
In the weeks since his death, friends and fans have rallied around the family. A GoFundMe created to help cover medical costs and provide stability for their children quickly surpassed its initial goal, with supporters noting that “the costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds.” The outpouring reflects the affection many felt for the actor known for his sincerity on and off screen.
Tributes from former co-stars echoed that sentiment. Katie Holmes, who starred alongside him on “Dawson’s Creek,” wrote, “I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey. He is beloved.”
Yet perhaps the most powerful tribute is the one Kimberly shared: a bedside vow renewal filled with music, candlelight, and love. In those final days, the couple returned to the heart of their marriage — promises spoken not in a grand venue, but in the quiet sanctuary of their own room. It was, in every sense, a goodbye rooted in faith, devotion, and the sacredness of time they had shared.