Alfonso Ribeiro posted a touching photo on Instagram, taken “just a few minutes” before saying goodbye to his close friend James Van Der Beek. In the picture, Ribeiro holds James’ head, he lies in bed with his hat pulled low; the actor wrote that their last moments were filled with laughter and warm memories, and that he would always be with his friend’s children — in particular, he called the role of little Gwen’s godfather important for himself.
James Van Der Beek died at the age of 48 after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer. The actor’s family — his wife Kimberly and six children — remain in mourning; relatives asked for privacy in the first days after his death. Numerous colleagues and friends from Dawson’s Creek and other projects honored Van Der Beek’s memory: Katie Holmes and Beezy Phillips were among those who responded, and the producers and actors spoke about his bravery, kindness, and influence on others.
In support of the family, a GoFundMe collection was created with an initial goal of $500,000, which quickly gained a significant amount and exceeded the million mark. Warm memories and photos from different stages of Van Der Beek’s life continue to appear on social networks and in the media space; many note that he will remain in the hearts of fans and friends, and will also appear in some projects posthumously.
