'I love you with all my heart': James Van Der Beek's poignant final Instagram post
Moderator - Tomas Kauer 
Just two weeks before losing his battle with colorectal cancer, James Van Der Beek took to Instagram one last time.
On January 26, the Dawson's Creek star shared a photo of himself with his daughter Annabel, one of six children he shares with wife Kimberly, to celebrate her 12th birthday – a date she shares with Van Der Beek's father, who is also called James. His mother passed away in 2020.
The post, which also included a photo of Annabel with her grandfather, paid tribute to two of the most important people in his life and ended with the now poignant words, "I love you with all my heart".
"My father and my daughter share a birthday today," he wrote in the caption.
"At first, I thought that was all they shared – they seemed so different to me. But as the two of you have evolved, and let more of who you are shine through, I can recognise the same open, warm, loving, gentle heart.
"I see the care and dedication you shower upon those you love most.
"I see the same out-of-the-box Aquarian creativity and originality. And you both make every room you're in more fun."
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He continued that while they had a "different sense of humour", they both "have a way of alchemising the vibe around you in such a subtle way one can almost miss how powerfully you do this".
"In this crazy world, it's a wonder to me that you've managed to stay so open, so tender, and so genuinely good.
"You are marvels… and I'm so insanely grateful to have you in my life. The world is a better place because the two of you are in it.
"Happy birthday, guys. I love you with all my heart."
In the first image, Van Der Beek, 48, was rugged up against the cold in a jumper and beanie, but the winter woolies could not hide his frail appearance as he hugged his daughter in what would become his final Instagram post before his death was announced this morning (AEST).
"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," the post announcing his death on Instagram, also shared by wife Kimberly, read.
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.
"There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.
"For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Van Der Beek's death at 48 came as a shock to many, despite the fact he had been battling stage three colorectal cancer, at first privately, since August 2023.
He made his diagnosis public in November 2024 after news outlets in the US reportedly threatened to report his diagnosis.
The actor appeared to be doing well until last September, when he was forced to pull out of a live script reading with the cast of Dawson's Creek to raise funds for the charity F Cancer.
He instead appeared via video link, where his frail appearance alarming fans.
There was no hint Van Der Beek was close to losing his battle with the disease during what would be his final television interview in December 2025.
In the segment, which was recorded at his home in Texas, he told the US Today show's Craig Melvin he was feeling "much, much better than I did a couple months ago" but admitted his battle with cancer was ongoing.
"It's been a longer journey than I ever thought it would be. It's required more of me – more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had.
"I knew I was strong – I didn't know I was this strong. But I feel good."
He also recalled the moment his doctor told him he had stage 3 colorectal cancer as he was coming out of anaesthetic following a 2023 colonoscopy.
"I went into shock. I really don't think I knew what to do. Neither did my wife," he said.
"And we drove home in silence. And part of me wanted to panic. Part of me wanted to just freak out. But then another part of my brain was like, 'You don't know enough yet'."
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However, he soon decided to turn a negative into a positive
"One of the things I was really lucky about was when I heard the news, I was like, 'This is gonna be the best thing that's ever happened to me'," he said.
"I had this little voice in my head that said, 'You're gonna make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn't have this extreme of a diagnosis, and it's gonna add healthy, happy years to your life'."
Van Der Beek leaves behind his wife Kimberly and six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four.
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