For a generation that grew up watching “Dawson’s Creek” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, the image is almost too intimate to process. Alfonso Ribeiro cradling James Van Der Beek’s head beside a hospice bed, sharing one last laugh before a goodbye that came far too soon.
TLDR
Alfonso Ribeiro shared a final bedside photo and tribute after James Van Der Beek died at 48 following a two-year colorectal cancer battle, as Hollywood grieved the “Dawson’s Creek” star and rallied around his widow, Kimberly, and their six children.
Final Moments at the Bedside
According to DailyMailUS, Ribeiro revealed that he was at Van Der Beek’s side in the final moments. On Instagram, he shared a tender photo taken by Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, capturing the two longtime friends in quiet conversation as the actor lay in bed wearing a woven hat pulled low.
In his caption, Ribeiro wrote, “This was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye.” He shared that even at the edge of life, their bond was defined by humor and warmth, adding, “My last moment was making him laugh one last time.”
The image is difficult to look at, yet impossible to forget. Ribeiro sits close, one hand gently supporting Van Der Beek’s head. It feels less like a celebrity snapshot and more like a private family moment that somehow slipped into public view.
Van Der Beek, 48, died after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer, leaving behind Kimberly and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. For Ribeiro, the connection is more than a Hollywood friendship. He is godfather to their daughter Gwendolyn, a role he describes as one of the great privileges of his life.
A Friendship Written in 1990s TV
Their bond is steeped in 1990s television history. Van Der Beek became a symbol of sensitive teenage yearning as Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek”. Ribeiro had already carved out his own iconic place as Carlton Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. Their shows existed in different fictional towns, yet they spoke to the same generation and helped shape the same pop culture landscape.
Over the years, the two men grew from peers into chosen family. In his longer tribute, Ribeiro tried to capture the scope of that relationship, admitting, “I am so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today. He was my true friend, brother, and life guide.”
Ribeiro described walking alongside Van Der Beek through the diagnosis, treatment, and fragile stretches of hope. “I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer. His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride, the highs when it looked like he had it beat, to the breaking lows of it coming back.”
He credited James and Kimberly with changing the course of his own life, writing, “I have learned so much from James. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they have given me and my family.”
Then he turned to the promise that now defines his public role in their story. “He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life.”
Hollywood Grieves and Remembers
Van Der Beek’s death resonated far beyond the “Dawson’s Creek” fanbase. His family announced his passing in a statement that captured both the intimacy of their loss and the grace with which he faced the end. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the statement read. “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.”
According to DailyMailUS, his “Dawson’s Creek” castmates quickly filled social media with tributes. Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter opposite Van Der Beek’s Dawson, honored him in a handwritten message shared online. She remembered his “bravery, compassion, selflessness and strength” and his “appreciation for life”, framing his legacy in qualities that extended far beyond the screen.
Reese Witherspoon, who serves as an executive producer on the “Legally Blonde” prequel series “Elle,” in which Van Der Beek will appear posthumously, wrote that she was “devastated” by the news. “What an extraordinary, talented man who also showed great kindness and grace in every action,” she shared. “Praying all the angels watch over his family during this difficult time.”
Other familiar names, including Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lucy Hale, Christie Brinkley, and Rumer Willis, responded to the announcement with visible support and condolences. The response underscored how deeply connected Van Der Beek remained within Hollywood, not only as the face of a defining teen drama but as a colleague known for generosity and quiet steadiness.
Rallying Around Kimberly and the Children
The grief has quickly been paired with action. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Kimberly and the couple’s six children, with an initial goal of $500,000. The page explained, “Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education.”
Kimberly acknowledged the effort in a message shared on her Instagram Stories. “My friends created this link to support me and our children during this time. With gratitude and a broken heart,” she wrote, laying bare both the vulnerability of her new reality and the community gathering around her.
For fans, the sight of Van Der Beek with his children has long been part of his public identity. He shared their milestones openly, reframing his image from teen idol to devoted father whose real life looked richer and more expansive than any storyline in Capeside. The new fundraising effort places that image in a different context. It turns nostalgia into a question of legacy, care, and what it means for a family to lose its center far too early.
Ribeiro’s promise to remain present in Gwendolyn’s life, and the wave of support surrounding Kimberly, hint at the quiet network of friends, colleagues, and fans now trying to shoulder a fraction of that weight. Behind the headlines and the throwback clips, that is where James Van Der Beek’s story will continue, in the lives of the people he held closest.
Join the Discussion
How are you remembering James Van Der Beek’s legacy, from his “Dawson’s Creek” years to the devoted husband and father he shared with fans?
