{"id":227364,"date":"2026-03-09T14:22:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/09\/james-van-der-beeks-9-year-old-shares-heartbreaking-tribute\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T14:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:22:53","slug":"james-van-der-beeks-9-year-old-shares-heartbreaking-tribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/09\/james-van-der-beeks-9-year-old-shares-heartbreaking-tribute\/","title":{"rendered":"James Van Der Beek&#8217;s 9-Year-Old Shares Heartbreaking Tribute"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is a beautiful, devastating tribute.<\/p>\n<p>In February, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/02\/james-van-der-beek-cause-of-death-dawsons-creek-star-was-48\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Van Der Beek passed away<\/a> after his battle with colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n<p>On what would have, should have been his birthday, his family honored his memory.<\/p>\n<p>His young daughter\u2019s video will break your heart. It certainly broke ours.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-1024x576.png\" alt=\"James Van Der Beek smiles on Today in July 2025.\" class=\"wp-image-531415 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_01-Cropped.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">For James Van Der Beek, having his family\u2019s support during his cancer journey has meant so much.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: NBC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-he-did-not-live-to-see-his-49th-birthday\">He did not live to see his 49th birthday<\/h2>\n<p>Saturday, March 8, would have been the late actor\u2019s 49th birthday.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of the usual celebrations, his family and loved ones celebrates his life in a different way.<\/p>\n<p>9-year-old Emilia Van Der Beek posted an emotional (and emotionally <em>devastating<\/em>) video.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs you all probably know, my dad has passed away,\u201d she said in a heart-wrenching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reels\/DVoal70ESnV\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> video.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut,\u201d she continued, \u201cI\u2019m just going to tell you little tips or anything that helps you getting through anybody you love passing.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVoal70ESnV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p>Emilia offered her first piece of advice, which is \u201cto talk to them and let your emotions out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She suggested: \u201cIf you miss them, you can cry. You can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emilia described: \u201cI start with a sentence, and I say, \u2018Hi, Dad. I miss you and I love you so much, and I\u2019ll never stop loving you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 9-year-old elaborated: \u201cAnd I just tell him about my day, how I\u2019m feeling and I tell my family how I\u2019m doing. And I know he can hear me, but I can\u2019t hear him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emilia expressed that it is key to \u201cfeel them in your heart\u201d because dead loved ones are \u201cpart of your body.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1024x576.png\" alt=\"The children of James Van Der Beek.\" class=\"wp-image-531414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1024x576.png\" alt=\"The children of James Van Der Beek.\" class=\"wp-image-531414 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-728x410.png 728w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-960x540.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1080x608.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0731_jamesvanderbeek_02.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">During James Van Der Beek\u2019s appearance on \u2018Today,\u2019 the NBC program showed a photo of his large family.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: NBC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-s-not-a-good-strategy-for-someone-s-passing\">\u2018It\u2019s not a good strategy for someone\u2019s passing\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>During the video, Emilia expressed the belief that her late father is \u201cin a good place\u201d because he is \u201cnot in pain anymore; he\u2019s in heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She correctly affirmed that it is normal and okay to experience the full spectrum of emotions, including happiness and sadness and even anger.<\/p>\n<p>Emilia sagely added that you can\u2019t blame yourself, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s not a good strategy for someone\u2019s passing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She pointed out: \u201cEverybody has different emotions in their body, and they express it in different ways. Many, many different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Continuing, she instructed: \u201cAnd don\u2019t let anybody tell you that. Be like, \u2018No, you don\u2019t know how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1001\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01.png\" alt=\"A dark mode Instagram caption screenshot.\" class=\"wp-image-550120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01.png 1001w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-960x554.png 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1001\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01.png\" alt=\"A dark mode Instagram caption screenshot.\" class=\"wp-image-550120 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01.png 1001w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01-960x554.png 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0309_kimberlyvanderbeek_ig_01.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">James Van Der Beek\u2019s widow, Kimberly, explained her 9-year-old daughter\u2019s emotional video.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Emilia then opined that everything \u201chappens for a reason.\u201d This can be a polarizing take after a tragedy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomething my dad told me,\u201d she shared, \u201cwas if this doesn\u2019t work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have to believe in miracles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emilia also admitted that she \u201cstole\u201d her father\u2019s hat after he died. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy dad\u2019s hat smells like him, and I love it so much,\u201d she confessed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1024x560.png\" alt=\"The photo and most recent level of the Van Der Beek GoFundMe\" class=\"wp-image-548213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-960x525.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1080x591.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01.png 1084w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1024x560.png\" alt=\"The photo and most recent level of the Van Der Beek GoFundMe\" class=\"wp-image-548213 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-960x525.png 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01-1080x591.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01.png 1084w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0212_jamesvanderbeek_gofundme_01.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">As of the morning on Thursday, February 12, the GoFundMe for the Van Der Beek family had brought in over $1.3 million.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Image Credit: GoFundMe)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-i-know-that-he-was-a-good-man\">\u2018I know that he was a good man\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Emilia also expressed her gratitude towards the thousands of people who had donated to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/02\/james-van-der-beek-gofundme-1-million\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the GoFundMe<\/a> for her family.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know that he was a good man,\u201d she affirmed. \u201cA lot of people loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd,\u201d she highlighted, \u201cpeople prayed for him, and he was loved by \u2026 many, many people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Emilia is displaying a tremendous amount of emotional maturity \u2014 for an adult, let alone for a 9-year-old. <\/p>\n<p>She has had a long time to contemplate her father\u2019s illness and loss, and clearly, her parents <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2025\/07\/james-van-der-beek-cancer-parenting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">walked her through this possibility<\/a> long before the end.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/03\/james-van-der-beek-9-year-old-daugher-message\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 3 minutes This is a beautiful, devastating tribute. In February, James Van Der Beek passed away after his battle with colorectal cancer. On what would have, should have been his birthday, his family honored his memory. His young daughter\u2019s video will break your heart. It certainly broke ours. For James Van Der Beek, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":227365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-227364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}