James Van Der Beek Remembered on First Posthumous Father’s Day by Wife Kimberly: 'Thinking of How Magnificent You Were'

Nicholas RiceSun, June 21, 2026 at 3:47 PM UTC

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James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberlee Van Der Beek with their six children.Credit: James Van Der Beek/Instagram -

Kimberly Van Der Beek remembered late husband James Van Der Beek on what marked his first posthumous Father's Day on Sunday, June 21

The actor died following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 48 in February

He and Kimberly shared six children together: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, plus sons Joshua and Jeremiah

James Van Der Beek is being remembered as a great dad.

Marking the first Father's Day after the actor died following a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 48 in February, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, honored him with a reflective Instagram post on Sunday, June 21.

"Missing you so much and thinking of how magnificent you were in every single way today," Kimberly, 44, wrote in her caption.

James Van Der Beek with his kids.Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram (2)

"And somehow, from the other side? You continue to parent," she continued. "You're a marvel. 🩵."

Kimberlee included more than a dozen photographs with her Instagram tribute, including snapshots of James with all of the couple's children, as well as images of him posing one-on-one with the kids.

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James Van Der Beek with his kids and wife.Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram

James and Kimberly first crossed paths on a trip to Israel in 2009. They wed a year later and went on to welcome six children together.

Together, the couple shared daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, as well as sons Joshua and Jeremiah.

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James first announced his cancer diagnosis exclusively with PEOPLE in November 2024, saying he was focusing on his health and family. (The cancer was discovered after a routine colonoscopy in August 2023.)

Kimberly announced the news of James' death through an Instagram post earlier this year. Sharing a professional photo of the actor, she wrote, "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace."

James Van Der Beek with his kids.Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram (2)

Back in March, during what marked James' first posthumous birthday, his daughter Emilia reflected on losing her dad through a video shared on her mom's Instagram page.

Emilia, 9, explained in the clip how she processes her grief, saying, "You have to feel them in your heart, because they're in your heart. They're watching over you. They're a part of your body and in a good place."

"I know that my dad's in a good place," she added. "He's not in pain anymore. He's in heaven above the clouds with God and the Lord."

Elsewhere in her minutes-long clip, Emilia also expressed, "Everything is meant to happen for a reason."

James Van Der Beek with his kids.Credit: Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram

She continued," Something my dad told me was if this doesn't work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have to believe in miracles. Miracles can still happen, just later on in life, and they'll keep coming."

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