The “Dawson’s Creek” actor died at 48 on Feb. 11 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

James Van Der Beek’s loved ones share photos from his finals days: ‘Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye’

The "Dawson's Creek" actor died at 48 on Feb. 11 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 12, 2026 11:57 a.m. ET

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James Van Der Beek in May 2025; Van Der Beek and Stacy Keibler. Credit:

JC Olivera/Getty; Stacy Keibler/Instagram

- James Van Der Beek died at 48 on Feb. 11 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

- Several of his former costars and longtime friends celebrated the *Dawson's Creek* star after his death.

- Actor Mechad Brooks and wrestler Stacy Keibler are among those who shared photos and memories from the actor's final days.

James Van Der Beek's inner circle is celebrating his life with joyous memories of the actor before his death.

On Wednesday, Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced the news that her husband had died at 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. She wrote that he "met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," a sentiment that has since been echoed by several loved ones who recently spent time with him.

Former WWE star Stacy Keibler penned a touching tribute to Van Der Beek on Instagram, sharing a photo of them admiring a sunset. The sweet snap shows Van Der Beek sitting in a wheelchair while Keibler crouches at his side with a smile.

"Spending these final days with you has been a true gift from God. I have never been so present in my life," Keibler captioned the photo. "The other night we watched the sunset together as you shared your wisdom, your hopes, and the promises we made to each other. We talked about how this world can feel upside down… and how maybe heaven needs your spirit now to help steady us down here. And just as the sun slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky… as if to remind us that none of this is random."

She added, "It has been an honor to stand beside your family in these sacred moments… I will think of you every time I watch a sunset. Every time I see a rainbow stretch across the sky. I'll know you're there."

*Law & Order* actor Mehcad Brooks recalled his own time spent with Van Der Beek before his death, commenting on Kimberly's statement. "Being there with you these past days has been the greatest honor of my life," he wrote. "Until we meet again, my beautiful brother."

In a video shared on Instagram, he reiterated that spending the last "four or five days" with Van Der Beek was "one of the greatest honors of my life." Brooks added that he was there to "hold his hand, and pray with him, and tell him jokes, and tell him how much I love him, and sing to him, and join in on the energy work, and literally just watch this man handle death like a king."

Erin Fetherston and James Van Der Beek.

Erin Fetherston/Instagram

*Dancing With the Stars* host Alfonso Ribeiro also commented on Kimberly's announcement post, writing, "Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye."

In a separate post paying tribute to the late actor, Ribeiro revealed that he is the godfather of one of Van Der Beek's six children and opened up about feeling "broken" following the death of his close friend.

"I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer," Ribeiro wrote. "His family and friends went on this roller-coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back. I've learned so much from James."

Noting that James and Kimberly changed his life, the *Fresh Prince of Bel-Air *star added that he feels forever indebted to them "for all they've given me and my family."

James Van Der Beek at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Vivien Killilea/Getty

Van Der Beek was also celebrated by designer Erin Fetherston, who shared several photos of herself with him, including a shot of her holding his hand while he lay in a hospital bed.

"You were loved by the whole world, but to us, you were Uncle James," Fetherston captioned her post. "Thank you for your friendship. For always showing up. For being the one who would go the extra mile. When our dog died in the middle of the night, you were the one who came over with a shovel. When our babies were born, you and [Kimberly] were the very first visitors — you didn't just celebrate our milestones, you were part of them."

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She continued, "What an honor it was to have a seat at your table and to call you a best friend. The space you leave behind can never be filled, but we will do our best to shower your beautiful family with love and remember to keep dancing in your honor — because you always knew the importance of joy. We love you. Always."**

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