The outpouring of support for James Van Der Beek‘s family has been swift and generous. It’s also been deeply unsettling.
Hours after the Dawson’s Creek star died Wednesday (February 11, 2026) at 48, following a battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, friends launched a GoFundMe to support his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. The campaign surpassed $1 million by Thursday morning (February 12, 2026), with nearly 20,000 donors contributing. Among them: actress Zoe Saldaña, who pledged $2,500 monthly, and Vampire Diaries producer Julie Plec, who donated $5,000.
The fundraiser’s message was stark. “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” it read. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.”
Many donors left heartfelt tributes. “Dawson’s Creek– and James as an actor- were such a big part of my teen years,” one wrote. “The show taught me so much about friends, love and life.”
But the campaign also ignited a firestorm about the US healthcare system.
“James Van Der Beek’s wife has a GoFundMe to try and ensure her children don’t lose their home,” one person wrote on X. “This is the reality of America’s for profit healthcare system.”
Another added, “What a horrendous state the US health care system is in. Potentially bankrupting people going through the toughest fight.”
Rep. Ro Khanna weighed in too, writing that “even a beloved actor’s fight left his young family drowning in medical debt.”
The stark reality hit home for many. “If even CELEBRITIES run out of money when theyre sick… what happens to the rest of us?!” one commenter asked. “This is CLEARLY AN ISSUE IN AMERICA.”
One donor shared their own experience: “For people talking about ‘get screened,’ I have EXCELLENT healthcare coverage and a familial history of colon cancer. I get colonoscopies every 3 years. It costs $2000-$4000 out of pocket every time with insurance coverage.”
Van Der Beek had been selling memorabilia to cover treatment costs before his death. An auction of Dawson’s Creek props and wardrobe in December raised over raised over $47,000. The iconic necklace Dawson gave Joey for prom sold for $26,628 on its own. His Cobra Kai co-star Paul Walter Hauser had also been fundraising on Cameo, raising more than $14,000.
The conversation has been complicated. Some questioned why a former TV star’s family needed crowdfunding, asking about life insurance and financial planning. Others saw it as missing the point entirely.
The GoFundMe total has surpassed its $1.3 million goal in just 24 hours. The Van Der Beek family’s struggle has become an uncomfortable mirror reflecting America’s healthcare crisis back at us.
