Overview
- Kimberly Van Der Beek shared a series of Instagram Stories on March 8 with archival photos and videos, writing that it would have been her husband's 49th birthday.
- She also posted a video recorded by their nine-year-old daughter, Emilia, who says she talks to her father every day and offers advice on coping with grief; Kimberly noted Emilia asked to make the clip.
- One outlet reported the post drew more than 305,000 likes and nearly 7,000 comments, with messages from public figures including Rumer Willis and Rebecca Gayheart.
- Family statements have confirmed Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11 at age 48 after stage‑3 colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he disclosed in November 2024.
- In a new interview, Dawson’s Creek co-star Joshua Jackson reflected on Van Der Beek’s life and joined an AstraZeneca public service campaign urging early cancer screening, noting many peers have not begun testing.