James Van Der Beek Dies at 48: Cancer Costs Force Family GoFundMe

James Van Der Beek spent his final year selling the past to afford his future.​

The Dawson’s Creek icon died February 11, 2026, at 48 after a stage 3 colorectal cancer battle that cost him everything—including his savings. His widow Kimberly launched a GoFundMe that raised over $1 million in one day as Hollywood friends revealed the devastating financial toll.

Alfonso Ribeiro posted he said goodbye to Van Der Beek just this past weekend, watching his “beautiful friend” lose a fight that included “highs when it looked like he had it beat” followed by “soul-breaking lows”.​

The Numbers Tell the Story

• Date of death: February 11, 2026​
• Age: 48 years old​
• Cancer diagnosis: August 2023 (kept secret until November 2024)
• Cancer type: Stage 3 colorectal​
• Children left behind: 6 kids​
• GoFundMe total (24 hours): Over $1,000,000​
• Campaign goal: $1.3 million​
• Financial status: “Out of funds,” facing home loss​

Hollywood Mourns a Real One

Busy Philipps didn’t hold back on social media: “James was one in a billion and he will be forever missed”. She actively pushed her 2.4 million followers to donate to the family’s GoFundMe, exposing the harsh reality that fame doesn’t protect against medical bankruptcy.​

Kerr Smith, who played Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek, wrote: “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply”. The show’s 1998-2003 run created lifelong bonds.

Krysten Ritter, his “Don’t Trust the B—-“ co-star, remembered both “James and fake James”—the hilarious fictional version of himself he played on their show. “Beautiful human inside and out. Smart, empathic, kind, talented and just pure magic,” she wrote.​

The Friend Who Watched It All

Alfonso Ribeiro’s tribute cuts deepest. He’s godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwen and witnessed the entire cancer journey—the hope, the relapses, the final decline.​

“This rollercoaster of highs when it looked like he had it beat, to the soul-breaking lows of it coming back,” Ribeiro wrote. He called Van Der Beek his “friend and life guide” who now serves as “my guardian angel”.​

That goodbye last weekend was one of the final—proof the family knew the end was near.​

He Was Selling Everything to Survive

Long before the GoFundMe, Van Der Beek took drastic measures. Throughout 2025, he auctioned Dawson’s Creek props, costumes, and set pieces through Propstore.​

He sold the iconic Varsity Blues jerseys that defined 90s teen cinema. “With all the recent unexpected twists and turns, it feels like that time is now,” he told People magazine about liquidating two decades of memorabilia.​

The subtext was clear: medical bills were drowning him. He promised portions would help other cancer families—even while his own family faced financial ruin.​

More Stars Break Their Silence

Chad Michael Murray: “James was a giant. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us—he inspired us to be better in all ways”.

Sarah Michelle Gellar: “James’s legacy will always live on—this is a loss not just for your family but for the world”.​

Austin Nichols: “As an actor, friend, and father I know he was even more beautiful and inspiring”.​

The tributes share a common thread: Van Der Beek wasn’t just a colleague—he was genuinely beloved. Multiple co-stars used “brother” and “family” instead of professional distance.

The Cancer That’s Killing Younger Americans

Van Der Beek was only 45 when diagnosed in August 2023—below the screening age recommended at that time. He kept it secret for over a year, only revealing the diagnosis in November 2024.​

Colorectal cancer is surging among Americans under 50, and doctors still don’t fully understand why. Van Der Beek became an advocate before his death, partnering with Guardant Health to promote early screening including the FDA-approved Shield blood test.​

He detected his cancer through a colonoscopy—still the gold standard. By September 2025, he was missing public appearances, blaming “two stomach viruses” that caused severe weight loss. Those were cancer complications.

He Worked Until the End

Van Der Beek continued filming through treatment—appearing on The Masked Singer in 2025 and shooting Amazon’s “Overcompensating” and the “Legally Blonde” prequel “Elle”. Six months before his death, he told USA TODAY that cancer “reinvigorated his love” for acting.​

“I have good days and bad days,” he admitted in his final interview. The bad days eventually won.​

During a 2024 Good Morning America appearance, he became emotional discussing Kimberly’s support: “She’s amazing. She really taught me what unconditional love is”. He told Robin Roberts that illness forced him to accept help for the first time.​

Why This Family Needs Help Now

The GoFundMe campaign statement is stark: “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds”. Kimberly faces keeping six children in their home and schools without her husband’s income.​

Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek transformed from a self-described “very shy kid” into a 1990s phenomenon as Dawson Leery. His role defined teen television for an entire generation.

His official Instagram announced the death: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning”. The family emphasized he maintained “courage, faith, and grace” until the end.

The donations continue climbing as fans and friends rally behind Kimberly and the children—supporting a family that lost everything to an illness that doesn’t discriminate by fame or fortune.