{"id":2413889,"date":"2026-05-12T20:11:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2413889"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:11:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T20:11:19","slug":"kimberly-van-der-beek-says-the-comforts-of-shock-have-worn-off-3-months-after-james-death-the-reality-is-settling-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/kimberly-van-der-beek-says-the-comforts-of-shock-have-worn-off-3-months-after-james-death-the-reality-is-settling-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Kimberly Van Der Beek says &#8216;the comforts of shock have worn off&#8217; 3 months after James&#8217; death: &#8216;The reality is settling in&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kimberly Van Der Beek is opening up about grief three months after her husband James died at 48.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The reality is settling in&#8230; and I miss him. We all miss him,&#8221; she admitted in a candid Instagram post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The actor died in February following a battle with colorectal cancer. James is survived by Kimberly and their six children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/james-van-der-beek-and-his-wife-renewed-wedding-vows-days-before-his-death-11907909\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Kimberly Van Der Beek;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kimberly Van Der Beek&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Kimberly Van Der Beek<\/a> is reflecting on the three months since <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/james-van-der-beek\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:James Van Der Beek;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;James Van Der Beek&quot;}\" class=\"link \">James Van Der Beek<\/a> died.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The widow of the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/dawsons-creek\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Dawson's Creek;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Dawson'&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Dawson&#8217;s Creek <\/em><\/a>star opened up about grief in a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYPkSUvAPhu\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:candid Instagram post on Tuesday;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;candid Instagram post on Tuesday&quot;}\" class=\"link \">candid Instagram post on Tuesday<\/a>, sharing images of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/all-about-james-van-der-beeks-wife-and-six-kids-11904701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:James and their children;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;James and their children&quot;}\" class=\"link \">James and their children<\/a>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/james-van-der-beek-dawsons-creek-star-dies-at-48-11904646\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:James died in February;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;James died in February&quot;}\" class=\"link \">James died in February<\/a> following a battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;To say I&#8217;m heartbroken is a severe understatement.\u00a0Words just don&#8217;t capture what grief is.\u00a0The comforts of shock have worn off.\u00a0The reality is settling in&#8230; and I miss him.\u00a0We all miss him,&#8221; Kimberly began.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Yet, there is a different kind of magic in the air.\u00a0I feel him.\u00a0I know him more deeply.\u00a0My conscious connection to God has deepened.\u00a0The veils of the universe have thinned.\u00a0And I trust that this is the path me and my family have always been intended to walk,&#8221; she continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kimberly, who shares Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah with James, added that the &#8220;outpouring of support&#8221; she&#8217;s received &#8220;has been tremendous.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Kimberly and James Van Der Beek with their children<br \/>Credit: James Van Der Beek\/Instagram<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It&#8217;s held our family in the most beautiful of ways.\u00a0You all went absolutely above and beyond anything I could have ever expected in supporting us and honoring James.\u00a0I am deeply grateful.\u00a0There is so much more to share here.\u00a0And in time- I will,&#8221; Kimberly concluded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \">EW Dispatch newsletter<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">James was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/james-van-der-beek-reveals-colorectal-cancer-diagnosis-8738866\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023&quot;}\" class=\"link \">diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023<\/a> but didn&#8217;t go public with the health news until November 2024. \u201cThere\u2019s reason for optimism, and I\u2019m feeling good,&#8221; he said at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kimberly announced James&#8217; death on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUoR_x4EkTm\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Instagram;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Instagram<\/a> on February 11. &#8220;Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,&#8221; she said. &#8220;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.&#8221;<em><br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Days before James died, he and Kimberly, who were married for 15 years, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/james-van-der-beek-and-his-wife-renewed-wedding-vows-days-before-his-death-11907909\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:renewed their wedding vows;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;renewed their wedding vows&quot;}\" class=\"link \">renewed their wedding vows<\/a>. &#8220;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,&#8221; <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/james-van-der-beek-renewed-his-wedding-vows-with-wife-kimberly-before-his-death-exclusive-11905781\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:she told PEOPLE in February;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;she told PEOPLE in February&quot;}\" class=\"link \">she told PEOPLE in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The intimate ceremony was attended by their children and a few close friends, while others participated via Zoom. The &#8220;beautiful&#8221; ceremony ended with &#8220;Somewhere Over the Rainbow.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"James and Kimberly Van Der Beek with their childrenCredit: James Van Der Beek\/Instagram\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ZRUPp2wPKbIaaRaQZAR01g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/ef2c0782bdfe826be8da50cf7f922808\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>James and Kimberly Van Der Beek with their children<br \/>Credit: James Van Der Beek\/Instagram<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After his death, a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/support-for-james-van-der-beeks-family\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:GoFundMe;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;GoFundMe&quot;}\" class=\"link \">GoFundMe<\/a> was set up to help offset the steep cost of &#8220;medical care and the extended fight&#8221; for James&#8217; family as they faced &#8220;an uncertain future.&#8221; &#8220;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,&#8221; the page reads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As of publishing, the fundraiser has surpassed its $1.5 million goal with over $2.8 million raised for his family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/kimberly-van-der-beek-says-the-comforts-of-shock-have-worn-off-three-months-after-james-death-11972813\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points Kimberly Van Der Beek is opening up about grief three months after her husband James died at 48. &#8220;The reality is settling in&#8230; and I miss him. We all miss him,&#8221; she admitted in a candid Instagram post. The actor died in February following a battle with colorectal cancer. James is survived by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2413890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[379275,455535,53779,444392,350581],"class_list":["post-2413889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-colorectal-cancer","tag-husband-james","tag-instagram-post","tag-james-david-van-der-beek","tag-van-der-beek"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Kimberly-Van-Der-Beek-says-the-comforts-of-shock-have.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2413889"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2413891,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2413889\/revisions\/2413891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2413890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2413889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2413889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2413889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}