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Six months after Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em> star James Van Der Beek<\/a> died after a tough battle with colorectal cancer<\/a>, his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, 44, shared a loving reflection about the star, whom she married in 2010.<\/p>\n In an August 2nd Instagram post featuring several photos with her late husband, Kimberly wrote: \u201c16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames<\/a>. The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have. He continues to be present and guide us. I’m eternally grateful,\u201d wrote the mother of six.<\/p>\n The final picture in the post featured James Van Der Beek embracing the couples\u2019 six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.<\/p>\n Born in 1977, James Van Der Beek became a global star in the late 1990s playing Dawson Leery in the cult series Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/a>.<\/em> After the show concluded in 2003, the Texan actor continued in film and television roles on series including the medical drama Mercy<\/em> before becoming a husband and father.<\/p>\n After being diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer<\/a>\u2014a diagnosis made public in 2024\u2014James Van Der Beek chose to prioritize time with his wife and children while he and Kimberly shared treatment updates with his fans in interviews and on social media.<\/p>\n In September 2025, Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em> costar Michelle Williams organized a one-night only special cast reading<\/a> of the show\u2019s pilot. Series stars including Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Busy Phillips read the episode for fans at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the broadway stage that is home to Hamilton<\/em>. The role of Dawson Leery was read by Hamilton<\/em> writer Lin-Manuel Miranda.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n