Kimberly Van Der Beek marked what would have been her 16th wedding anniversary with her late husband, actor James Van Der Beek, on Sunday. The actor died in February at the age of 48 after a battle with stage three colorectal cancer.
"16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames," Kimberly posted on Instagram, accompanied by photos of the couple and the actor with their children. "The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have. He continues to be present and guide us. I'm eternally grateful."
The couple, who welcomed six children together, wed on August 2, 2010, in a "small spiritual ceremony" in Tel Aviv, Israel. At the time of their wedding, Kimberly was pregnant with their first child.
James Van Der Beek rose to fame for his role in the teen drama series "Dawson's Creek." He publicly shared his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, stating at the time that he had been undergoing treatment and focusing on his health. He noted that his plans to discuss his journey were altered when a tabloid intended to publish the news. He expressed gratitude for the love and support from his family and fans.
Throughout his treatment, Van Der Beek shared updates with his followers, describing the experience as requiring "more patience, more discipline" and more strength than he previously knew he possessed. His final social media post was on January 25, wishing his daughter and father a happy birthday.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, 15; Joshua, 14; Annabel Leah, 12; Emilia, 10; Gwendolyn, eight; and Jeremiah, four.