James Van Der Beek’s widow celebrated her daughter Emilia’s birthday on Thursday by sharing a photo of her and the late actor at 10 years old.
“I miss my love,” Kimberly Van Der Beek wrote of the sweet snap on her Instagram Story taken “just a few months ago.”
In the throwback shot, the “Dawson’s Creek” alum sits outside wearing a fur-lined jacket and leans in to receive a hug from her young child.
In the outdoor photo, Emilia wore an oversized sweatshirt, put her arm on her father’s shoulders and rested her head on top of him.
Kimberly and James went on to have five more children — Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabelle, 12, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4 — before the “Pose” alum lost her battle with cancer in February.
On what would have been James’ 49th birthday earlier this month, Emilia shared a heartbreaking Instagram video about working through grief.
“I’m going to give you little tips and things that will help you pass your loved one,” the preteen said, wearing a James hat, reminding viewers to “talk to[the deceased]and let your emotions out.”
“It’s okay to cry if you miss it,” she continued. “I can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day. … I just tell him about my day, how I’m feeling. I tell my family how I’m doing. I know my dad can hear me, but I can’t hear him.”
Elsewhere in the video, the 10-year-old said her late father was “in a good place” and said: “There’s no more pain and he’s in heaven.”
Emilia concluded by declaring, “You still have to believe in miracles.”
She also thanked those who donated to the family’s GoFundMe, set up by her mother’s friends.
“I know he was a good person. Many people loved him, people prayed for him, and he was loved by many,” Emilia exclaimed.
James passed away on February 11th at the age of 48 after a nearly three-year battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Kimberly, who married James in 2010, said in a statement at the time: “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace.” “There is much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sanctity of time. That day will come.”
The Varsity Blues star was diagnosed in the summer of 2023 and waited until November 2024 to make the news public.
