James Van Der Beek chose to spend his final chapter surrounded by family, faith, and love. And just days before his passing on Feb. 11 at age 48 in Texas, the actor shared one last deeply personal moment with his wife, Kimberly. The couple renewing their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony that feels almost cinematic in its tenderness.
James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberly created something profoundly simple. According to Kimberly, the decision came together quickly, just two days before the ceremony. What followed wasn’t some overproduced spectacle. Instead, it was heartfelt and homegrown.
“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,” she shared, per PEOPLE. She described the moment as “simple and beautiful and moving.”
A Private Texas Ceremony Filled With Love and Music
From the bedroom transformed with candles and blooms, they spoke their promises again. Close friends and family gathered in person, while others tuned in via Zoom. Instrumentalist Poranguí played what Kimberly called the “most beautiful music,” closing the ceremony with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” If that detail alone doesn’t hit you in the chest, check your pulse.
For many fans, this final vow renewal feels like the perfect bookend to a love story that began back in 2009, when James and Kimberly met during a trip to Israel. A year later, they were married in Tel Aviv on Aug. 1, 2010. James once reflected on that whirlwind wedding, sharing how Kimberly had dreamed of a specific officiant marrying them on a particular date, and somehow, everything aligned.
He recalled how they were married “in the basement of the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv.” The night was chaotic and magical: strangers dancing, Israeli paparazzi ambushing them afterward, and dinner at a Lebanese dive with plastic tablecloths and unforgettable food.
As James put it, “We’ve gone through success, tragedy, joy, stress, triumph, uncertainty, and through it all… these have been the best years of my life. Every moment. Because I have the BEST adventure partner. Our life is CRAZY right now. We might be crazier. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fans Mourn as as James Van Der Beek’s Family Focuses on Healing and Stability
That “crazy” life included six children: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah, who became the center of everything. It’s impossible to separate this story from the deep sense of family that defined their move away from Hollywood to build a quieter life in Texas.
When Kimberly announced James’ passing on Instagram, her words reflected both devastation and grace. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. 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.”
Fans have flooded social media with heartbreak. One wrote, “I can’t shake the fact that they moved out of Hollywood, to TX, to build this beautiful life for their children and he has been robbed of watching them all grow up. It’s truly heart breaking. Life can be so unfair to some of the nicest people.” Another shared, “So terribly sad that this has ended so quickly. My heart goes to the family and friends.” And perhaps most poignantly: “So touching. What a legacy he left.”
A Lasting Legacy
The financial toll of his extended cancer battle also became clear when a GoFundMe created by friends surpassed $1 million in less than 24 hours, far exceeding its original $250,000 goal. The fundraiser notes that the costs of medical care left the family financially strained and aims to help them remain in their home and provide stability for the children.
It’s easy to focus on the tragedy of a life cut short, six children growing up without their father but there’s also something undeniably powerful about those final days in Texas. A bedroom filled with flowers. New rings. Music floating softly through candlelight. Promises spoken again. James Van Der Beek’s final act wasn’t about fame or nostalgia. It was about love reaffirmed, witnessed, and remembered.
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