James Van Der Beek's widow marks first wedding anniversary since his death: 'Eternally grateful'

Kimberly Van Der Beek honored James Van Der Beek on their 16th anniversary, sharing unseen photos and calling herself 'the luckiest woman'
James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek married in 2010 and welcomed six children together, starting with daughter Olivia (JC Olivera/Getty Images)
James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek married in 2010 and welcomed six children together, starting with daughter Olivia (JC Olivera/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Although death may have taken 'Dawson's Creek' actor James Van Der Beek, his memories, his words, and the life he shared with his widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, remain as vivid as ever.

Now, Kimberly has shared an emotional post featuring a series of photos of her late husband, celebrating their loving and enduring marriage. Although he is no longer with her, she made sure to keep his memory alive through the heartfelt tribute. 

On what would have marked their 16th wedding anniversary, Kimberly said she is "eternally grateful" for everything they shared.

James Van Der Beek (R) and Kimberly Van Der Beek attend HFC’s Brain Health Dinner on September 30, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Hilarity for Charity)
James Van Der Beek (R) and Kimberly Van Der Beek attend HFC’s Brain Health Dinner on September 30, 2023 in Austin, Texas (Rick Kern/Getty Images for Hilarity for Charity)

Kimberly Van Der Beek shares anniversary tribute

Kimberly marked her first wedding anniversary without her late husband with a heartfelt tribute. Although the 'Dawson's Creek' actor is no longer alive, she made sure the special day was filled with love and memories instead of sorrow.

On Saturday, August 1, she shared four never-before-seen photos of the couple, accompanied by an emotional message honoring their long-lasting marriage. "16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames."

"The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have. He continues to be present and guide us. I'm eternally grateful," the caption reads.

The first photo in the Instagram post shows Kimberly and James smiling at the camera. The second image also captures the couple smiling together but has a more casual, selfie-like feel.

The third photo is another outdoor selfie of the pair. The final image is especially emotional, showing the couple with all of their children embracing them. While none of the children's faces is visible, only the actor's face can be seen.

As soon as the post was shared, friends, family members, and co-stars flooded the comments section with heartfelt messages.

James and Kimberly Van Der Beek's love story

In his last post, he celebrated the warmth, creativity and loving hearts of both his daughter and father — qualities he said they share despite seeming so different (Instagram/vanderjames)
James Van Der Beek with his wife and children (@Vanderjames/Instagram)

The actor and his wife were married in Tel Aviv, Israel, on August 1, 2010. They conceived their first child, daughter Olivia, just a month after getting married. Over the years, the couple welcomed five more children together.

According to People, just days before the actor's death on February 11 at the age of 48, the couple decided to renew their vows.

"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," shared Kimberly.

The 'Dawson's Creek' star died from colorectal cancer.

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