Organizers of a GoFundMe campaign for support James Van Der BeekThe family of has offered an update.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for introducing James and his beautiful family,” read one update shared by “Friends of the Van Der Beek Family” on Friday, February 13th. “Your kindness has meant more than words can say. In the midst of deep pain, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that James’ spirit continues to bring people together.”
Van Der Beek died on wednesday 11 februaryat age 48, after a stage III battle with colorectal cancer.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” a statement on social media said. “There is much to share about his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. We now ask for peaceful privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
UPDATE — 2/13/26, 7:37am ET: The GoFundMe campaign has raised $2,125,661 as of Friday, February 13th. Original story: The GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek’s widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children has reached a major milestone. As of Wednesday afternoon, February 11, the GoFundMe campaign has surpassed $1 (…)
James is survived by his wife of almost 16 years, Kimberly Van Der Beekand his six children. A group of friends later launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover James’ medical bills and to allow his family to “stay in their home.”
“Right now, the family is taking time to grieve and be with each other,” Friday’s update added. “We kindly ask the media and the public to give them space and privacy as they go through this painful season. Your respect and understanding will give them the space they need to heal.”
The statement also asked fans to keep Kimberly, 44, and James’ loved ones “in your thoughts and prayers.”
“Thank you for honoring his life with compassion, generosity and love,” the statement concluded.
Since then, the fundraiser has raised more than $2 million in support of Kimberly and the children, including a donation of $25,000 from Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw. Spielberg was above all Dawson Leery’s favorite filmmaker Dawson’s Creek. (James played the titular teenager, an aspiring filmmaker, a Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003).
James Van Der Beek’s close friend describes his family’s “urgent” need for money after his death. “I’m so happy and grateful that so many people feel moved in their hearts the way those closest to us feel,” designer Erin Fetherston told ExtraTV on Thursday, February 12, as the actor’s family raised more (…)
“Dawson’s bedroom was kind of a temple to Spielberg, and so I had to write him a letter because he retains the rights to all that stuff,” the show’s creator said. Kevin Williamson he said Weekly entertainment in 2018. “I said, ‘Please, Mr. Spielberg, you don’t know me, but I was this kid. I had this bedroom. I had all his posters in my bedroom. Can I introduce Dawson as he really was?” It was really interesting, he answered and wrote the most lovely answer.”
Williamson, 60, explained that Spielberg agreed to the request, as long as Dawson’s Creek he did not mention Spielberg’s wife and children.
“‘Just keep it from me and you can do whatever you want,'” Williamson recalled of the letter. “I said, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.'”
James starred Dawson’s Creek next to Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams i Phillips busyall of whom attended a live pilot reading in 2025 intended to support James’ cancer battle. Spielberg, meanwhile, sent a special video message.
“Dawson, you nailed it,” Spielberg said in pre-recorded footage from the New York City event. “Maybe one day I’ll have a Dawson closet.”
James was unable to attend the meeting due to a stomach infection.