{"id":2280803,"date":"2026-02-13T17:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2280803"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:45:16","slug":"james-van-der-beek-gofundme-organizers-share-update-on-his-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/james-van-der-beek-gofundme-organizers-share-update-on-his-family\/","title":{"rendered":"James Van Der Beek GoFundMe Organizers Share Update on His Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

The organizers of a GoFundMe campaign to support James Van Der Beek<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s family have offered an update.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up for James and his beautiful family,\u201d read an update<\/a> shared by \u201cFriends of the Van Der Beek Family\u201d on Friday, February 13. \u201cYour kindness has meant more than we can put into words. In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that James\u2019s spirit continues to bring people together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Der Beek died on Wednesday, February 11<\/a>, at the age of 48, following a stage III battle with colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,\u201d a social media statement read. \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek\u2019s Family Raises More Than $2 Million<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tUPDATE \u2014 2\/13\/26, 7:37 a.m. ET: The GoFundMe campaign has raised $2,125,661 by early Friday, February 13. Original story: The GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek\u2019s widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six kids has hit a huge milestone. As of the evening of Wednesday,\u00a0 February 11, the GoFundMe campaign has surpassed the $1 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

James is survived by his wife of nearly 16 years, Kimberly Van Der Beek<\/strong><\/a>, and their six children. A group of friends subsequently launched a GoFundMe campaign<\/a> to cover James\u2019 medical bills and to allow his family to \u201cstay in their home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, the family is taking time to mourn and be with one another,\u201d Friday\u2019s update added. \u201cWe kindly ask members of the media and the public to give them space and privacy as they walk through this painful season. Your respect and understanding will give them the room they need to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement further asked supporters to keep Kimberly, 44, and James\u2019 loved ones \u201cin your thoughts and prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for honoring his life with compassion, generosity and love,\u201d the statement concluded.<\/p>\n

The fundraiser has since raised over $2 million in support of Kimberly and the kids, including a $25,000 donation<\/a> from Steven Spielberg<\/strong> and his wife, Kate Capshaw<\/strong>. Spielberg was notably Dawson Leery\u2019s favorite filmmaker on Dawson\u2019s Creek. <\/i>(James starred as the titular teen, an aspiring filmmaker, on Dawson\u2019s Creek <\/i>from 1998 to 2003.)<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"GettyImages-923943768<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>James Van Der Beek’s Friend Details His Family’s ‘Urgent Need’ for Money<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tJames Van Der Beek\u2018s close friend is describing his family\u2019s \u201curgent\u201d need for money after his death. \u201cI\u2019m just so happy and grateful that so many people feel moved in their hearts the way that those of us close feel,\u201d designer Erin Fetherston told ExtraTV on Thursday, February 12, as the actor\u2019s family raised more [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cDawson\u2019s bedroom was sort of a temple to Spielberg, and so I had to write a letter to him because he retains the rights to all that stuff,\u201d show creator Kevin Williamson<\/strong> told Entertainment Weekly <\/i><\/a>in 2018. \u201cI was like, \u2018Please, Mr. Spielberg, you don\u2019t know me, but I was this kid. I had this bedroom. I had all your posters in my bedroom. Can I please present Dawson the way that he really was?\u2019 It was really interesting, he wrote back and he wrote the loveliest response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williamson, 60, explained that Spielberg agreed to the request, so long as Dawson\u2019s Creek <\/i>didn\u2019t mention Spielberg\u2019s wife and children.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Just keep it to me, and you can do whatever you want,\u2019\u201d Williamson recalled of the letter. \u201cI was like, \u2018Thank you, thank you, thank you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n