James Van Der Beek’s Final Social Media Post Celebrated His Dad & Young Daughter With Heartfelt Message

James Van Der Beek’s final Instagram post revealed how central family was to his life. The actor died at 48, and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his passing on Feb. 11, 2026.

Married since 2010, the couple created a large, close family and welcomed six children together, shaping the private world he cherished most beyond his public career.

Van Der Beek became widely known through the television drama Dawson’s Creek, which made him a defining face of late-1990s TV. Offscreen, however, he focused on resilience, emotional honesty, and devotion to loved ones.

In 2023, he received a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis but kept it private until late 2024, when he spoke openly to PEOPLE about facing treatment with strong family support.

Though unable to attend a 2025 reunion event in New York, he sent a heartfelt video message while his wife and children represented him in person, reflecting the unity that guided his life.

During a December 2025 conversation on Today with Craig Melvin, he shared cautious optimism, describing the long recovery as demanding patience, strength, and discipline he hadn’t known he possessed.

His final January 2026 post showed him hugging his daughter on her birthday, which she shared with his father. The caption praised their warmth, creativity, and kindness—leaving behind a lasting message that love and family define a person’s true legacy.