The love story between Heather McComb and James Van Der Beek did not end with their divorce. In a raw, grateful, and deeply spiritual Instagram tribute, the actress has opened a window into a decadeslong bond that survived young Hollywood, a breakup, and finally, his death from colorectal cancer at 48.
TLDR
Heather McComb is mourning ex-husband James Van Der Beek with an emotional Instagram letter that recalls their enduring bond, praises his wife Kimberly and children, and urges fans to support the family he leaves behind.
A Marriage That Became a Lifelong Bond
According to Page Six, McComb shared a black-and-white photo of herself and Van Der Beek from her 21st birthday, taken before “Dawson’s Creek” made him a household name. It is a snapshot from the 1990s that predates fame, streaming, and social media, yet it is the image she says will always define him in her heart.
She remembered him as “innocent, kind and pure of heart,” adding, “What a journey we shared over the years. I sit here in immense gratitude for the special connection, friendship and love that James and I shared that has endured through decades.”
McComb and Van Der Beek married in 2003, right as the “Dawson’s Creek” era was winding down, and divorced in 2009. The marriage ended, but the way she writes about him now suggests the relationship simply shifted form. Their story becomes less about former spouses and more about two people who continued to choose each other as family long after the romance was over.
She revealed that she will “treasure” their final conversation, though she kept the last words themselves private. In a tribute filled with specific memories and declarations, that one silence speaks loudly. It protects something that belonged only to them.
Honoring Kimberly and the Family He Built
McComb did not center herself in the story of his death. Instead, she made a point of turning the spotlight to the life Van Der Beek built after their marriage ended, and to the woman who walked beside him through illness.
“I am especially heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly, his beautiful children and his amazing family,” she wrote, before listing his relatives by name. The roll call reads less like a formal condolence and more like someone who stayed close enough to know the dynamics of the family from the inside.
McComb praised Van Der Beek’s devotion to his wife and children and singled out Kimberly’s strength during his illness, writing that how Kimberly “showed up for him with such grace is so beautiful and something I will forever admire.” In a culture that often pits exes and current partners against each other, McComb framed Kimberly as a quiet heroine of the story.
After his wedding to Kimberly in 2010, Van Der Beek became known not only as the face of “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues,” but as a devoted father to their six children. McComb’s tribute reinforces that public image and underlines how central fatherhood and marriage were to his later-life identity.
She also used her post to amplify a GoFundMe campaign created by friends to support Kimberly and the children. Page Six reported that the fundraiser has surpassed $1 million in donations, a number that reflects both his enduring fan base and the empathy his cancer journey generated.
Friends Gather at the End
Van Der Beek’s final days, as described by those around him, were filled with company, prayer, and the same mix of humor and vulnerability he once brought to television screens.
Actor Mehcad Brooks, a close friend, shared in an Instagram video that “one of the greatest honors” of his life was being by Van Der Beek’s side in those last days. He recalled getting to “hold his hand, and pray with him, and tell him jokes, and tell him how much I love him, and sing to him.” The image is intimate and unvarnished, far removed from red carpets or set lights.
According to Page Six, Van Der Beek was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and publicly discussed his condition the following year. In keeping with how he approached personal hardship in the past, he chose to share at least part of his journey with the public. In her tribute, McComb said that because of his “boldness to share his journey with the world so bravely,” he “is now a blessing to all.”
That word, “boldness,” carries weight. It suggests he made an intentional choice to turn his illness into a kind of service, using his platform to demystify a disease that remains difficult for many to talk about.
Dawson’s Creek Memories and Hollywood Grief
News of Van Der Beek’s passing, announced in a joint statement on Instagram by Kimberly, sparked an immediate wave of tributes from friends, colleagues, and former co-stars. The statement read in part, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
Katie Holmes, who shared six seasons with him on “Dawson’s Creek” from 1998 to 2003, offered her own reflection. She wrote that she had “a heavy heart” and was “so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey,” adding that “he is beloved” and promising Kimberly that their old cast family would be there “always” for her and the children.
Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler called those who knew him “the luckiest to have been part of his tribe” and told him to “fly high” in a message filled with affection. Sarah Michelle Gellar, framing her grief in blunt terms, wrote that while his legacy would live on, the loss was immense “not just [for] your family but the world” before ending her message with a pointed “F–k Cancer.”
These tributes reinforce the image McComb painted in her own post. To them, Van Der Beek was not merely the still-boyish face from a late 1990s teen drama. He was compassionate, spiritually searching, sometimes bruised by life but determined to keep growing.
Faith, Legacy, and a Final Blessing
McComb’s tribute repeatedly returns to Van Der Beek’s faith and restless inner life. She described him as “a beautiful soul filled with so much light, love, talent, humor, depth, sensitivity, knowledge, and a deep love of God that shined through him.”
“He shined so bright yet was so humble and human,” she continued. “Always searching, always growing, always going deeper, always chasing things outside his comfort zone.” The words feel as if they apply both to the ambitious young actor who stepped onto the “Dawson’s Creek” set in the 1990s and to the middle-aged husband and father grappling with a life-threatening illness.
In the end, she framed his passing as a homecoming as much as a loss. “James was a blessing to all that knew him,” she wrote, adding that she believed he had “a lot of loved ones up there welcoming you home.” She ended with a benediction that read like something between a prayer and a promise: “God bless you. Till we meet again, you sweet soul you.”
The public will remember James Van Der Beek in many different ways. For some, he will always be the conflicted, earnest teenager on “Dawson’s Creek.” For others, the comedic self-parody of “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” or the protective coach of “Varsity Blues.” McComb’s tribute adds another layer, presenting him as a man whose greatest stories unfolded off-screen, in his family life, in his faith, and in friendships that outlived a youthful marriage.
In a moment of acute grief, she chose gratitude, reverence, and generosity toward the woman who shared his final chapter. That choice, and the way celebrities and fans have rallied to support his family, may become as much a part of his legacy as any role he ever played.
Join the Discussion
How does Heather McComb’s decision to honor both her own history with James Van Der Beek and the family he built later in life shape the way you view their story and his legacy?
