Jared Van Der Beek, James Van Der Beek’s brother, took to Instagram on Friday to thank those who have reached out following James’ death on Wednesday.
“A special bond exists between brothers, but that physical bond was broken two days ago,” he wrote. “Now I understand why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There’s a deep sense of devastation and pain, and I never knew it could hurt so much. He means the world to me and I’ve relied on him for everything. I’ve looked up to him since I was born. He’s always been there for me when I needed him.”
“It was amazing to read and see how he touched so many people’s lives, not because of anything he did, but because of who he was,” he added. “He opened his heart and shared his wise soul. This pain deep within hurts, but with the outpouring of love, prayers and support, healing has already begun. Thank you for taking the time to reach out and let us know you are there. The community of people who were closely involved in his passing is nothing short of amazing, and I would like to thank everyone, both known and unknown, who worked to make his transition as beautiful as possible.”
James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11th after a battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.
The Van Der Beek family announced James’ death in a statement posted on Instagram: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He died with courage, faith, and grace. We have much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. For now, we ask for peace and privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
