James Van Der Beek’s Wife Kimberly Marks Wedding Anniversary After Death

James Van Der Beek’s wife Kimberly Van Der Beek is marking a special milestone in the pair’s marriage. 

Six months after the Dawson’s Creek alum died following a yearslong battle with colorectal cancer, his wife shared a message in honor of what would have been the couple’s 16th wedding anniversary. 

“16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames,” Kimberly wrote on Instagram Aug. 1 alongside photos with the late actor. “The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have.”

Indeed, Kimberly—mom to Olivia, 15, Joshua, 14, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, Gwendolyn, 8, and Jeremiah, 4, with James—shared she still feels her husband’s presence, adding, “He continues to be present and guide us. I’m eternally grateful.”

James died Feb. 11 after battling colorectal cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2023. He was 48. 

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a statement shared to James and Kimberly’s Instagram accounts read at the time. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”