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Stars and Fans Rally for Van Der Beek Family, Fundraiser Tops $1.8 Million
The entertainment world and beyond are uniting in support of James Van Der Beek’s family following the actor’s passing this week at the age of 48. A GoFundMe campaign established to aid the family of the beloved “Dawson’s Creek” star has quickly garnered over $1.8 million, with notable contributions from industry heavyweights.
Among the generous donors are Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, who contributed $25,000 to the fundraiser. “Wicked” director Jon M.
Chu also showed his support with a $10,000 donation. To date, the GoFundMe page lists more than 35,000 individual donations.
The fundraising effort, titled “Friends of the Van Der Beek,” names Kimberly Van Der Beek, James’s wife, as the beneficiary. Kimberly shared a link to the fund on her Instagram story on Wednesday, encouraging further support.
Van Der Beek, best known for his iconic role as Dawson Leery in “Dawson’s Creek,” also left his mark in films like “Varsity Blues” and TV series such as “Mercy,” “One Tree Hill,” and “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.” He passed away Wednesday morning after a battle with colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he revealed in 2024.
His family shared the heartbreaking news on his official Instagram page. He is survived by his wife and their six children.
The GoFundMe page highlights the significant financial burden the family endured throughout Van Der Beek’s illness. “Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care,” the page states.
It continues, “Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds.
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.”
Tributes from Van Der Beek’s former “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars poured in following his death. Katie Holmes, Mary-Margaret Humes, and Busy Philipps took to social media to share their condolences and memories.
Holmes posted a handwritten letter on Instagram, expressing her love and unwavering support for Kimberly and her children. Philipps also shared her heartbreak for the family and directed her followers to the GoFundMe page.
Humes, who played Dawson’s mother, shared a poignant tribute and requested privacy for Kimberly and the family during this difficult time.