James Van Der Beek’s last Instagram post was a touching photo of himself with his daughter Annabelle.
The “Dawson’s Creek” alum passed away on Wednesday, his wife Kimberly confirmed. Van der Beek had been battling colorectal cancer since August 2023.
In her last Instagram post on January 25, Van Der Beek paid tribute to 12-year-old Annabelle and her father James’ shared birthday.
In the photo, the actor was seen wearing a sweater and beanie as he wrapped his arms around Annabelle and hugged her back. He also shared a photo of his father with Annabelle.
“I recognize the same open, warm, loving, kind hearts,” he wrote of the two. “I see the care and dedication you give to those you love most. I see the same ingenuity and originality in Aquarius.”
“And you two make every room you’re in more fun,” he continued. “You have different senses of humor, but you both have a way of alchemizing the atmosphere around you in such a subtle way that it’s almost impossible to see how powerfully you do it.”
Van der Beek said he is “insanely grateful” to have them in his life.
“The world is a better place because of you two,” he wrote. “Happy Birthday, everyone. I love you with all my heart ❤️”
Van der Beek was 48 years old. He and Kimberly had six children: Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabelle, 12, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3.
Kimberly said Wednesday that the actor “met his final days with courage, faith and grace.”
“There is much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. That day will come,” she wrote.
“At this time we ask for peace and privacy as we grieve our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
In September 2025, Van Der Beek had to withdraw from the long-awaited Dawson’s Creek reunion due to battling two stomach viruses.
He said the charity event, held in partnership with F. Cancer, was “the night[he]was most looking forward to” since his co-star Michelle Williams came up with the idea in January last year.
Van der Beek, who played Dawson Leary for six seasons, admitted, “No matter how hard I try…I can’t get up there.” “I will never be able to stand on that stage and thank everyone in the theater for fighting for me and fighting cancer when I needed it most.
Van der Beek announced his cancer diagnosis in November 2024.
In his last interview in December 2025, he said the diagnosis was “the best thing that ever happened to me.”
