James Van Der Beek's widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, paid her respects to Eric Dane's family after his untimely death at 53. "RIP @realericdane. We love you," Kimberly, 44, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, February 21. "Will miss our guys laughing at Christmas parties together." James died on February 11 at the age of 48 following a battle with stage III colorectal cancer. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," a statement shared via Kimberly's Instagram read. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend." Revisit Late James Van Der Beek's Cancer Battle in His Own Words Dane died one week later on Thursday, February 19, after battling ALS. He is survived by his two children with Rebecca Gayheart. James, who is survived by Kimberly and their six children, announced in 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer one year prior. "About as soon as I heard the news, I thought, 'This is gonna be the best thing to ever happen to me.' I had this little voice in my head that said, 'You're gonna make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn't have this extreme of a diagnosis, and it's gonna add healthy, happy years to your life,'" James said on Today in December 2025. "I don't think I knew what it was to slow down before ... to really look at everything I eat, everything I put in my body. Really, the biggest change I'd say would be this journey of self-love. What I realized was, I'm still worthy of love. My own love, God's love." According to James, his diagnosis had "changed everything." James and Kimberly Van Der Beek in December 2025. Courtesy of Kimberly Van Der Beek "It'll change the way I live for the rest of my life," he said. "Presence, I think, is really the gift that cancer's given me." James further shared a health update at the time. "I feel a little bit better every month. It's required more of me - more patience, more discipline," he said, two months before his death. "More strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong, I didn't know I was this strong." James Van Der Beek Reflects on 'Tough Year' After Cancer Diagnosis Kimberly, who was married to James since 2010, remained steadfast by his side amid his cancer journey. "It is so appropriate that your birthday is on International Women's Day because you are such a beautiful place for our little ladies to explore what it is to be fully expressed in their authentic selves," Kimberly wrote via Instagram in March 2024, sharing a birthday tribute to James. "You are an incredible example for our sons. This year particularly, you have exemplified grace, bravery, vulnerability, authenticity and alchemy with your heart and divine essence as the guide post." She concluded, "Wishing you magic, abundant health, unfolding your dreams and divine path alignment. I love you. And to our friends, THANK YOU for the way you've shown up for this monumentally glorious human this year." Kimberly traveled to New York City with her children for a live Dawson's Creek pilot reading months later in 2025, supporting James' cancer battle. He was unable to attend after battling a stomach bug. "They are magic, kind, gifted, heart forward and ... sacred." Kimberly wrote via Instagram in September 2025 of James' Dawson's Creek costars. "Missed my guy so. But the support and the love has been healing to the core."