Close friends of James Van Der Beek have opened up about the heartrending final moments before the beloved actor passed away at just 48-years-old. The Dawson’s Creek icon succumbed to colorectal cancer after a courageous fight.
His passing follows mere weeks after the star posted an uplifting New Year’s Resolution message on social media. He wrote at the time: “Why are we celebrating a New Year in the dead of winter? The time to celebrate a new beginning, and a new you, and a new resolution, is the spring.”
Tragically, this Wednesday, James’ relatives issued a statement confirming he had lost his two-year battle with cancer. Sources close to the family have now disclosed how his final days in hospice care saw him become increasingly frail. An insider speaking to Daily Mail revealed that, despite maintaining a brave public face, James understood his time was limited.
The source shared: “James was on hospice for several weeks and he was rail thin when he passed. He was mostly in bed because he was very weak, and he was not eating.”
They described how devastating it was to witness the actor’s decline. “He was in hospice, they held his hand and were there for him, of course,” they explained.
“But it has been hard because James was so ill, he was weak, He had so much charisma, he was a wonderful soul, and his presence is missed. Those poor little kids.”
James leaves behind six children – Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four – and his wife, Kimberly. The family had relocated to a ranch outside Austin, Texas, after choosing to leave Los Angeles in 2020.
An insider suggested the actor was seeking “peace” during his final weeks. Reports indicate he had been aware for some time that his cancer was terminal and treatment options had been exhausted.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family with “essential living expenses”. The page states: “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. 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.
“The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”
In less than a day, the fundraiser had collected more than $1million. Several high-profile figures, including Zoe Saldana appear to have contributed.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
