Why ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star James Van Der Beek’s widow says the family was left with nothing

The widow of James Van Der Beek says years of cancer treatment drained the family’s finances, forcing them to seek public support shortly after the actor’s death.

Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, died peacefully on February 11, 2026, aged 48, following a three-year battle with colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed his death in a statement shared on Instagram.

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“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote. “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

Within hours, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe, with Kimberly saying the cost of prolonged medical care had exhausted the family’s resources.

By 7.30 pm on February 11, the campaign had raised more than $598,000, according to Business Insider. The original $500,000 target was quickly raised, first to $700,000 and later to $1 million, as donations poured in from more than 7,000 contributors.

“My friends created this link to support me and our children during this time,” Kimberly wrote in an Instagram story. “With gratitude and a broken heart.”

The GoFundMe page states that the funds will be used to cover household bills, daily living costs and the education of the couple’s six children, aged between four and 15. It adds that the family is working to remain in their home and maintain stability following the loss.

A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that the platform is working directly with the family and that all funds are being held securely by its payment processor.

Van Der Beek first began cancer treatment in early 2023 but did not publicly disclose his diagnosis until November 2024, when he revealed he had stage 3 colorectal cancer. He later described the illness as a “full-time job”, involving constant hospital visits, insurance disputes and difficult conversations at home, according to reports.

In December 2025, he told NBC that the experience demanded more patience and resilience than he had ever expected.

The financial strain was already evident before his death. In 2025, Van Der Beek auctioned off personal memorabilia from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues to help offset medical bills. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sale raised more than $47,000, with a necklace from Dawson’s Creek selling for $26,628.

Friends and former colleagues later rallied around the family, including a one-night charity event in New York featuring several of his former Dawson’s Creek castmates. Van Der Beek was unable to attend due to illness.

Despite a career spanning more than two decades, Van Der Beek frequently spoke about prioritising family life. In her appeal, Kimberly thanked supporters for helping her and their children face what she described as an uncertain future.