Friends of James Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48 from colorectal cancer, have shared final images with the actor and launched a campaign to support his family.
One of the tribute posts was shared by his friend Stacy Keibler. The former WWE star posted a beautiful image of the two together, watching a stunning sunset.
“Spending these last days with you was a true gift from God. I have never been more present in my life,” she wrote in the caption.
Keibler also reflected on the actor’s resilience, praised him as a father, husband, and friend, and concluded by saying that Van Der Beek leaves behind an important lesson: “Perhaps the lesson you leave us is this: the present moment is everything. Love the people in front of you. Say the words. Watch the sunset. Trust God, even when you don’t understand.”
Another emotional tribute on social media came from fashion designer Erin Fetherston. She shared a series of photos, with the last — apparently the most recent — showing James in bed while she sat beside him holding his hand.
In the caption, Fetherston said it had been an honor to have the actor as her best friend: “Brother James, you were loved by the whole world, but to us, you were Uncle James,” she wrote.
Shortly after news of Van Der Beek’s passing was announced, his friends launched a campaign on GoFundMe, seeking support for his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children.
“Following this loss, Kimberly and the children face an uncertain future. The costs of James’ medical treatment and his long battle with cancer have left the family without financial resources,” the message on the page states.
The initial goal of $500,000 was quickly reached, and the target was later raised to $1.3 million — a figure likely to be met soon, as donations had already surpassed $1.2 million by Thursday morning.
James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11 at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer.
Images: Instagram reproduction @vanderjames, @erinfetherston, @staceykiebler. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
