It’s hard to be a romantic in times like these but it does happen. Even at the end James Van Der Beek was able to pull off one of the most romantic things we’ve seen in a while.
Just days before his passing James Van Der Beek and his wife renewed their vows at his bedside. The couple’s friends filled their bedroom to celebrate the simple ceremony. The room was filled with flowers and candles.
“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,”
“simple and beautiful and moving.”
Kimberly tells PEOPLE
During the ceremony they had a number of close friends nearby. One, an Instrumentalist Poranguí, played the “most beautiful music” and closed the ceremony with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as additional friends looked on over Zoom. If that wasn’t enough to make you cry, I don’t know what is. Especially with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” That song is brutal.
James and Kimberly met in 2009 where their encounter was nothing short of magical. They met while on a trip to Israel, then in 2010 just a year later, they went back to get married in Tel Aviv. Van Der Beek shared a 13th anniversary post to celebrate the couple about two and a half years ago.
During the course of their marriage they had six kids together. Four girls and two boys.
Just over a year after he shared his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis the “Dawson’s Creek” star passed away. He left us February 11, 2026. His wife announced his passing on Instagram.
