James Van Der Beek Gofundme surpasses $500,000 goal just HOURS after cancer-stricken star’s death at 48

Gofundme, launched to support the grieving family of James Van Der Beek, surpassed its $500,000 goal just hours after the news of the star’s death was announced.

The Dawson’s Creek actor died at the age of 48 on Wednesday morning, February 11, after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek is survived by his longtime wife Kimberly and their six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, and Gwendolyn, seven, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, four.

Kimberly confirmed her husband’s death on Instagram and posted a link. gofundme It was started by friends of this couple.

‘My friends made this connection to support me and our children during this time. With gratitude and a broken heart,” Kimberly wrote via her Instagram Story.

The fundraiser stated that donations “will help cover basic living expenses, pay bills, and support livelihood.” [Van Der Beek] education of children.’

As of 3:30 p.m., more than 8,000 people had contributed and over $527,000 had been raised; this surpassed the fundraiser’s original goal of $500,000

Within the first hour of Gofundme’s launch, more than $100,000 was raised for the Van Der Beek family.

As of 3:30 p.m., more than 8,000 people had contributed and over $527,000 had been raised; this exceeded the fundraiser’s original goal of $500,000.

The goal was later increased to $1 million.

‘James’ medical care costs and his long battle with cancer over the last two years’ have ‘left the family without funds,’ according to Gofundme.

‘They are working hard to stay in their homes and ensure children can continue their education and maintain stability during this incredibly difficult time.

‘The support of friends, family and the wider community will make a huge difference as you navigate the road ahead.’

Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough, supermodel Lydia Hearst and talk show icon Ricki Lake are just a few of the fundraiser’s celebrity donors.

Van Der Beek’s death was confirmed Wednesday afternoon in a statement posted on social media by the actor’s family.

The following statements were included in the statement: ‘Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith and grace.

‘He has so much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity and the sanctity of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peace and privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.’

Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lucy Hale, Christie Brinkley and Rumer Willis responded to the family’s statement with the like button.

Van Der Beek first announced his cancer diagnosis in November 2024.

“There are no guidelines on how to publicize these, but I had planned to speak at length with People magazine about this issue recently to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms,” she wrote on social media.

Van Der Beek is survived by his longtime wife Kimberly and their six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, four.

Kimberly (seen with Van Der Beek) confirmed her husband’s death in a statement shared on Instagram

The fundraiser stated that donations “will help cover basic living expenses, pay bills, and support livelihood.” [Van Der Beek] child education’

‘But this plan had to be changed when we received news that a tabloid newspaper was going to publish this story early this morning.

‘Until now I’ve been dealing with this privately, receiving treatment and managing my general health with more focus than ever before. I’m in a good place and I feel strong. It’s quite the beginning and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.

‘I’m sorry to all the people in my life that I planned to tell myself. Nothing about this process happened on my preferred timeline… But we go at it, taking every surprise as a signpost, pointing us towards a destiny greater than we could ever discover without divine intervention. Please know that my family and I are so grateful for all your love and support.’

Van Der Beek later told People that he got through his health scare “with the support of my incredible family.”

And it’s slowed down dramatically in the last two years: ‘The beauty of taking things a little slower, prioritizing rest, and really letting that be the work, I’m just on the journey,’ he said during an interview on Today. The actor added: ‘It’s a process. ‘This will be a process that will probably last for the rest of my life.’

The star frequently updated her fans on social media about her cancer journey.

‘I feel a little better every month. It required more from me; more patience, more discipline,” he said late last year, discussing his weight loss. ‘More power than I ever knew I had. In the emotional conversation, the star said, “I knew I was strong, I didn’t know I was this strong.”

Her last Instagram post was on January 25, where she looked slim but healthy. He wished his daughter and father a happy birthday.

The Dawson’s Creek actor died at the age of 48 on Wednesday morning, February 11, after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer; Seen in May 2025

The star moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, with her family in 2020 for a simpler life as they lived on a farm.

Van Der Beek rose to fame in the ’90s when she was 20 years old as Dawson’s Creek’s teenage heartthrob, Dawson Leery.

The series ran for six seasons on the WB Network from 1998 to 2003 and also launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson.

On the show, Katie played Dawson’s childhood sweetheart, Joey Potter, while Joshua played their other friend and Joey’s true love, Pacey Witter. Michelle rounded out the core group as rebellious Jen Lindley.

In her early days, Van Der Beek was not prepared for the level of fame that came with starring in a high school drama.

‘It’s something that took me a long time to become known for… I had a big learning curve on that,’ she told People in 2024.

‘It was a different interaction back then. I’m a lot more adult now and at the time I was so tortured about it because I loved being observant and a fly on the wall and randomly chatting with people.

‘I remember being so heartbroken at the fact that these random conversations or random acts of kindness were now eliminated because there was this thing called ‘celebrity’ between me and someone else and that became the center of attention.’

Van Der Beek starred alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams in the hit series Dawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons.

Another hit film made by Van Der Beek was 1999’s Varsity Blues; Angelina Jolie’s father spotted with Jon Voight

Even though Van Der Beek had to deal with dealing with global fame, she ultimately valued her time on Dawson’s Creek.

He has also been delighted to reconnect with his former castmates in recent years, and in August 2025 it was announced that he and the cast would reunite for a live reading of the series’ pilot episode.

The celebration was a one-night charity event to raise money for the non-profit F Cancer and Van Der Beek during her cancer journey.

However, days before the event was to take place, Van Der Beek broke down, announcing that he had to withdraw from the event due to illness.

He expressed his disappointment in a pre-recorded video played on the night, telling fans: ‘I’ve been looking forward to this night for months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was going to put this together.

Van Der Beek, who grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut, began acting at the age of 13 after suffering a concussion while playing football under doctor’s orders that prevented him from playing for a year.

He took on the role of Danny Zuko in the school production of Grease.

Van Der Beek worried fans when she appeared noticeably thin during a virtual appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September.

Her last Instagram post was on January 25, where she looked slim but healthy. He wished his daughter and father a happy birthday

George Clooney’s ex-girlfriend Stacy Keibler shared the last photo of the actor in his wheelchair in his final days.

He continued in theater, and in 1994, at the age of 16, he landed an off-Broadway role in Finding the Sun, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee and one of his sons, in a revival of Shenandoah at the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House in his hometown.

He won a scholarship to Drew University in New Jersey, but left school early after being cast on Dawson’s Creek.

He returns to campus in 2024 to accept the honorary degree for his “selfless service and exemplary commitment to the Drew mission,” the university said.

Other notable film roles include Texas Rangers in 2001, Rules of Shooting in 2002, The Plague in 2006, Final Draft in 2007, Labor Day in 2013, Downsizing in 2017, and Bad Hair in 2020.

He has also appeared on the TV shows One Tree Hill, Mercy, Law & Order: SVU, How I Met Your Mother, Friends With Better Lives, CSI: Cyber, Pose, Vampirina and Overcompensating.

The star’s next role will be in Elle, a remake of Legally Blonde, starring Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods.