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A GoFundMe set up to support the widow and children of actor James Van Der Beek has raised more than $1m as thousands of people donated within hours of its launch.
Van Der Beek, best known for his role as sensitive teen Dawson Leery on the TV series Dawson’s Creek, died on Tuesday aged 48 after a battle with bowel cancer.
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. Shortly after announcing Van Der Beek’s death via a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Kimberly published a link to a GoFundMe to help with expenses relating to his extended medical treatment.
“My friends created this link to support me and my children during this time,” she wrote. “With gratitude and a broken heart.”
The total raised had reached $1.3m by early on Thursday. According to the fundraiser, Van Der Beek’s medical care costs “have left the family out of funds”.
“They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”
The fundraiser target was initially set at $500,000, but four hours after it was published, with donations from more than 7,000 individuals already approaching that amount. The target was adjusted to $700,000, and then $1m. At the time of writing, it stood at $1.5m.
Van Der Beek had been open about the stress of medical expenses. Shortly after announcing his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, he started auctioning off memorabilia from the movie Varsity Blues, in which he played a high school quarterback, to help with treatment costs for himself and other cancer patients.
At the time, he wrote on Instagram: “100% of my net proceeds will go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own 😇).”
The US healthcare system, dominated by private insurance giants, has long faced criticism for the high costs it imposes upon patients and their families. A growing number of Americans believe the system is in crisis.
Last year Van Der Beek auctioned off memorabilia from Dawson’s Creek, telling People: “I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now.”
In September, Van Der Beek’s former Dawson’s Creek castmates – including Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson – came together for a one-night charity event in New York to help raise money for the family. Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in for Van Der Beek, who was unable to attend due to illness.
