The death of James Van Der Beek flooded Hollywood with sadness, with celebrity friends and former co-stars flooding social media with emotional tributes to the beloved actor who passed away on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) at age 48.
Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, announced his death on Instagram, stating that her husband met his final days with courage and grace. The reaction from the entertainment community was swift and heartfelt, with stars from across generations sharing their grief.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who rose to fame alongside Van Der Beek during the late ’90s teen TV boom, didn’t mince words in her tribute. “While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world,” she wrote, ending with a pointed “F**k Cancer.”
Alfonso Ribeiro shared that he was fortunate enough to say goodbye to his friend. “I am broken,” the Dancing with the Stars host wrote on Instagram, describing Van Der Beek as his true friend and life guide.
The Dawson’s Creek family was particularly devastated. Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Van Der Beek’s mother on the iconic teen drama, posted a moving tribute. “Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception,” she wrote, calling him “my gracious warrior.”
Busy Philipps, Van Der Beek’s co-star on both Dawson’s Creek and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, expressed profound heartbreak for his wife and six children. “James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed,” she wrote, adding simply that he was her friend and she loved him.
Chad Michael Murray, who worked with Van Der Beek on One Tree Hill, called the actor a giant. “His words, art and humanity inspired all of us – he inspired us to be better in all ways,” Murray shared in his tribute.
Emma Slater, Van Der Beek’s Dancing with the Stars partner from Season 28, revealed she was able to be there for his final goodbye. “He is and will always be family to me,” the professional dancer wrote, expressing devastation at the loss.
Jennifer Garner offered comfort to the Van Der Beek family, while Jenna Dewan said she would forever remember his sweet, gentle soul. Melissa Joan Hart, who shared Van Der Beek’s first on-screen kiss when he guest-starred on Clarissa Explains It All, called him truly a nice guy and great father.
Krysten Ritter posted multiple tributes to her Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 co-star. She described him as a beautiful human who was smart, funny, empathetic, kind, and talented, expressing gratitude for their friendship.
Paul Walter Hauser shared details of a fundraising campaign he’d been running for Van Der Beek’s cancer treatment. “Thanks for the body of work and for being one of the good guys,” he wrote in his emotional post.
Industry tributes poured in as well. Fox Entertainment released a statement praising Van Der Beek’s courage in participating in their cancer awareness special The Real Full Monty despite facing his own health challenges. Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, where Van Der Beek recently worked on the series Overcompensating and the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel Elle, honored him as a consummate professional and vocal cancer awareness advocate.
The outpouring of love extended beyond close friends. Julie Plec, Olivia Munn, Rumer Willis, Lance Bass, Eric Stonestreet, and Derek Hough all shared condolences. Lin-Manuel Miranda posted a selfie from a Dawson’s Creek reunion in 2025, expressing that his whole heart was with the Van Der Beek family.
Van Der Beek had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since revealing his diagnosis in November 2024. His family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses and support his wife and six children — Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
A new GoFundMe was created by Kimberly’s friends, as the family is out of money and struggling to stay in their home after Van Der Beek’s death.
“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” a description on the post read.
