James Van Der Beek rose to fame as an actor, but he said one of his favorite roles was that of a proud father.
The actor, who died on Feb. 11 at age 48, told "Good Morning America" in 2023 that being a father to his kids is "the thing that's made me happiest."
In a statement announcing Van Der Beek's death, his family remembered him as a "loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
He is survived by his wife, fellow actor Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
When James Van Der Beek was forced to miss a "Dawson's Creek" reunion in New York City last September due to illness, his wife and children stepped into support, singing and standing alongside his former costars.
James Van Der Beek announced in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, a type of cancer characterized by malignant cells and polyps that grow out of control in the colon or rectum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Get to know the actor's family below.
James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, married in August 2010.
The couple marked their 15th wedding anniversary on Aug. 1, 2025, with tributes to each other on Instagram.
"15 years ago today, this woman agreed to be my bride," James Van Der Beek wrote alongside a photo of the pair together. "@vanderkimberly you are the most extraordinary human I’ve ever met. One day I’ll tell the story of what you’ve endured these last two years and how you’ve shown up, time and time and time again. You have not only saved my life… you’ve shown me what it is to live."
"There are no words for how much I love and appreciate you. I could not do this without you," he continued. "Happy anniversary my love ❤️"
The Van Der Beeks welcomed their oldest child, a daughter named Olivia, in 2010.
James Van Der Beek wished his daughter a happy 15th birthday on Sept. 25, 2025, by sharing a video on Instagram of Olivia and her younger sister singing at the "Dawson's Creek" reunion.
"My oldest turned 15 today. Same age that Dawson was in the pilot," he wrote, in part. "To watch you stand there in that red dress, so confidently taking center stage amidst all those people I’ve known so long and cherish so deeply… I’m just left in awe."
In February 2024, Olivia performed on "We Are Family," singing a duet with her father to Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance."
James Van Der Beek called himself "a very proud papa" in an Instagram post about her performance , writing, "So proud of my baby girl. And I call her that because when I watched her tonight, all I could see was the newborn in the bassinet who I could not stop looking at in awe."
Joshua is the second oldest of the Van Der Beek children and his parents' first son. He was born in 2012.
When Joshua turned 12 on March 13, 2025, James Van Der Beek described him as a young man with "depth and wisdom."
"No one has taught me more about the kind of man I want to be more than you. Your questions are my guideposts. Your opinions my mirror. And your sense of humor fills me with endless delight," he wrote on Instagram, later adding, "Thank you for always holding true to who you are and what you believe. And for being the most fun adventure buddy on the planet. I simply could not imagine a better son."
Annabel is the third of the Van Der Beek kids and shares the same January birthday as her paternal grandfather, James Van Der Beek's dad.
On their birthday last month, Van Der Beek celebrated them, writing on Instagram, "You are marvels… and I’m so insanely grateful to have you in my life. The world is a better place because the two of you are in it."
James and Kimberly Van Der Beek welcomed their daughter Emilia in March 2016.
James Van Der Beek shared throwback photos on Instagram to celebrate Emilia's 9th birthday on March 23, 2025.
"My heart… turns 9 years old today," he wrote. "I consider all my children my teachers, but you I’ve always considered an authority. Whether you’re ushering us all out the door on time, helping put your little brother to bed, or telling me where you think I went wrong… when you speak, I listen."
James Van Der Beek announced the arrival of their daughter Gwendolyn in June 2018.
In celebration of her seventh birthday, he wrote on Instagram, "Before you dropped into this life, you filled your cart to the max with sweetness, sass… and I think you just might be a low-key genius. You can bring a roomful of adults to genuine, uproarious laughter, and witnessing you care for and nurture younger kids is enough to restore anyone’s faith in humanity."
The youngest of the Van Der Beek brood is Jeremiah, who was born in October 2021.
"We had no idea how much we needed you. But YOU did. You are once again proof to us that kids come into this world with their own thing; their own essence, appetites, and personality, and you have never been shy about letting us know exactly who you are, and what you want," James Van Der Beek wrote in an Oct. 10, 2024, Instagram post to his son.
