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James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberly held ‘beautiful’ bedroom ceremony before his death
Kimberly Van Der Beek describes the final ceremony as 'simple and beautiful and moving'
James Van Der Beek has renewed his wedding vows with his wife just days before his death, in what she described as a “simple and beautiful and moving” ceremony held from their bed.
The Dawson’s Creek alum, who died peacefully on Feb. 11 at age 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, shared the intimate moment with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and a small circle of loved ones.
“We decided two days beforehand and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed,” Kimberly told People.
The couple’s children and a few close friends were present, while others joined over Zoom. Instrumentalist Poranguí performed during the ceremony, closing with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
James and Kimberly first met during a 2009 trip to Israel and married on Aug. 1, 2010, in Tel Aviv. Reflecting on their wedding in a past anniversary tribute, James recalled how they were married “in the basement of the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv” before celebrating with an impromptu dinner at a Lebanese restaurant.
In announcing his passing, Kimberly shared that her husband met his final days “with courage, faith, and grace,” asking for privacy as the family grieves their “loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Over their 15-year marriage, the couple welcomed six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
In the wake of his death, a GoFundMe created by friends to support the family surpassed $1 million within 24 hours, far exceeding its initial $250,000 goal.
The fundraiser cited the financial strain of James’ extended cancer treatment and aims to help the family remain in their home and maintain stability for their children.
The bedside vow renewal, organized just days before his passing, now stands as a final testament to the couple’s enduring bond, a private moment of love and devotion shared at the end of a life marked by both public success and personal resilience.