- - James Van Der Beek's Family: All About the Late Actor's Parents and 2 Siblings

Jordana ComiterFebruary 11, 2026 at 3:45 PM

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James Van Der Beek and his mom Melinda ; James Van Der Beek and his dad in January 2025.

James Van Der Beek/Instagram (2)

James Van Der Beek was born to parents James William Van Der Beek and the late Melinda Weber

The Dawson's Creek alum, who died on Feb. 11, had two siblings

Nearly a year before his death, James thanked his dad for being there for him "emotionally" amid his cancer journey

James Van Der Beek's family — including his parents and two siblings — helped shape his legacy.

The Dawson's Creek alum, who died on Feb. 11 at 48 years old, was born to parents, James William Van Der Beek Sr. and the late Melinda Weber. He grew up in Connecticut alongside his brother Jared and sister Juliana.

Over the years, James' parents were active in his personal and professional life, including supporting him when he competed on season 28 of Dancing with the Stars in the fall of 2019. Years later, James opened up in a January 2025 Instagram post about how James Sr. was by his side in the wake of his mother's 2020 death and later amid his colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2023.

"The way you have shown up when I’ve been down and out this year - without us having to ask, without the expectation of even a thank you... has been not just life-saving, but life affirming," he wrote. "I’m blown away by how you’ve been there for me emotionally as I’ve moved through everything cancer brings up."

The Masked Singer alum added, "I know it’s outside your comfort zone, but especially since Mom died, you have come through for me again and again and again in ways that I didn’t even know how much I needed."

Here's everything to know about James Van Der Beek's family, including his parents and two siblings.

His mom was a professional dancer and gymnastics teacher, and his dad is a former baseball player

James Van Der Beek with his family in November 2019.

James Van Der Beek/Instagram

Prior to her death, Melinda was a professional dancer and gymnastics teacher.

Meanwhile, his dad is a former minor league baseball pitcher who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after he graduated from Lafayette College, per the school's Hall of Fame website.

Following his retirement, he began working a telecommunications job. In April 2012, he had worked with AT&T for over three decades, though it is unclear if he is still at the company.

James and his two siblings grew up in Connecticut

James Van Der Beek with his family.

James Van Der Beek/Instagram

James was welcomed by his parents on March 8, 1977, in Connecticut. He was raised alongside his two siblings, brother Jared and sister Juliana.

Jared is a former college baseball player, per the podcast I Played, Too, and is now a physical therapist, per his LinkedIn.

Juliana maintains a relatively private life, though the actor wished his "little sister" a happy birthday on Instagram in April 2019.

"From the moment she was born, a bright, shining beacon of sweetness, optimism and joy. The kindest person I’ve ever known," he wrote at the time.

His mom died in 2020

James Van Der Beek's mom Melinda with his kids.

James Van Der Beek/Instagram

In July 2020, James announced his mother's death in an Instagram post, writing, "My mom crossed over last week. Even though we knew this was coming - and had actually thought we were at the end nearly a year and a half ago - I’m still in shock."

He added, "I’m grateful she’s no longer in pain, I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m relieved... all at once and in different moments. Just trying to hold space and allow for it all."

The actor also touched on her role in his career, saying, "She believed in me based on nothing but her own intuition and she passed on a craziness that has been crucial to not just my success, but my own personal happiness."

James continued paying tribute to her on social media in the following years, including sharing that he felt as though she sent "signs" when he and his wife welcomed their sixth child in October 2021.

He called his dad his "rock"

James Van Der Beek's dad with his family.

James Van Der Beek/Instagram

In January 2021, the Dawson's Creek alum shared heartfelt words about his dad on Instagram in honor of his birthday.

"Always a good father. Always supportive, and a provider, and kind, and thoughtful, and present, and a whole host of other qualities I had the immense privilege of taking for granted as a kid," he wrote. "But what I’m most grateful for about my father right now, especially after the death of my mother (his high school sweartheart [sic] and wife of almost 47 years), is his vulnerability."

James said that they had always had a good relationship, but the more his father "opened up," the more he came to see "just how human he is" and "the more [he loves] him."

He then thanked his father "not just for being a rock," but also for "having the courage to be soft."

In a separate Instagram post that June for Father's Day, James thanked his dad for "always being an example of a loving, caring father who always put his family first."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”