JAMES Van Der Beek’s long battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer reportedly took a devastating financial toll on his family before the actor died on Feb. 11 at age 48.
The heavy cost of treatment left his loved ones struggling in the aftermath of his death.
His wife, Kimberly, shared news of his passing on Instagram, saying he faced his final days with courage, faith and grace. The family now faces what supporters described as an uncertain future, according to Radaronline.
A GoFundMe set up by friends says the expense of James’ medical care and extended cancer fight wiped out the family’s funds. The page says Kimberly and the children are working to remain in their Spicewood, Texas, home near Austin while trying to keep life stable and the kids in school.
RadarOnline also reported that Van Der Beek spent heavily on treatment because he was determined to keep fighting for his family. In December, he auctioned personal memorabilia and raised $47,000 to help cover medical costs.
The former Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues star had gone public with his diagnosis in November 2024, saying there was reason for optimism and that he was feeling good. He had reportedly been dealing with the illness privately since being diagnosed in August 2023, with his family fully behind him throughout the fight.
Van Der Beek is survived by Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. Friends are now rallying around the family as they navigate grief and mounting financial pressure.
