Alfonso Ribeiro<\/a> and his wife, Angela, are feeling the love from their three kids following the death<\/a> of their close friend James Van Der Beek<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Monday, February 16, Angela took to her Instagram Story to share the sweet way the couple\u2019s children \u2014 AJ, Anders, and Ava \u2014 cheered them up amid their difficult time. \u201cNot the easiest week\u2026but our kids made us this beautiful cake to lift our spirits today,\u201d she captioned a photo of a homemade cake. \u201cKids just know.<\/p>\n \ufffd\ufffd<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n .\u201d<\/p>\n Ribeiro became a father in 2002 with the birth of his eldest child, daughter Sienna, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Robin Stapler. The actor and Angela wed in 2012, and the two welcomed AJ the following year. Their family continued to grow with the births of Anders and Ava in 2015 and 2019, respectively.<\/p>\n The couple were good friends with Van Der Beek, who died at the age of 48 on Wednesday, February 11. The Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em><\/a> star was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer<\/a> in August 2023 but did not go public with the news until November 2024. He is survived by his wife<\/a>, Kimberly, and their six children<\/a>. Ribeiro is the godfather of the couple\u2019s youngest daughter, Gwendolyn, who was born in 2018.<\/p>\n Angela Ribeiro’s Instagram Story, February 16, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Courtesy of Angela Ribeiro\/Instagram<\/p>\n Ribeiro paid tribute to his late friend with an emotional Instagram post<\/a> on Wednesday. \u201cI\u2019m so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today. He was my true friend brother and life guide,\u201d he wrote alongside a photo of the two. \u201cI was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer. His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back. I\u2019ve learned so much from james. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they\u2019ve given me and my family. He will live forever in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued, \u201cI will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen\u2019s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life. I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.\u201d<\/p>\n Angela called Van Der Beek her \u201cbrother from another\u201d in an Instagram tribute<\/a> of her own. \u201cI\u2019m going to miss our talks, our enlightening and humorous text chats, our ski adventures, but most of all your presence and the way you made everyone feel truly seen,\u201d she captioned a photo of herself and the late actor on Wednesday. \u201cYour words of wisdom and your beautiful insight changed me in ways that upgraded my whole being.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cI\u2019ll miss your voice notes that always began with \u2018hello, soul sister\u2019\u2026 and even the way you teased me, from cutting pizza with scissors to my \u2018peculiar\u2019 humming on the ski slopes before first tracks, to my secret fascination with Korean TV. Thank you for every laugh, every lesson, every moment of light you shared so freely. You have enlightened me in ways I can\u2019t fully explain.\u201d<\/p>\n The following day, Ribeiro shared a heartbreaking photo of himself and Van Der Beek during their final visit. \u201cThis was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye,\u201d he captioned the Thursday, February 12, Instagram post<\/a>. \u201cMy last moment was making him laugh one last time. I really miss him already.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>