James Van Der Beek’s Friend Stacy Keibler Details His Final Days Before Death From Cancer
James Van Der Beek was cherishing every little moment before his death.
And his and wife Kimberly Van Der Beek’s longtime friend Stacy Keibler visited the Dawson’s Creek alum—who died on Feb. 11 after a yearslong battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer—on his Texas ranch during his final days, she had “never been so present.”
“The other night we watched the sunset together as you shared your wisdom, your hopes, and the promises we made to each other,” the former WWE star wrote on Instagram Feb. 11, posting a picture of him taking in the view from a wheelchair. “We talked about how this world can feel upside down…and how maybe heaven needs your spirit now to help steady us down here.”
She continued, “And just as the sun slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky…as if to remind us that none of this is random.”
Looking back at her time with the 48-year-old, Stacy, 46, said the moments they shared together were “a true gift from God.”
“When you know time is sacred, you don’t waste a single breath,” she shared. “You don’t rush. You don’t scroll. You don’t worry about tomorrow. You sit. You listen. You hold hands. You watch the sky change colors and you let it change you too.”
Instagram/Stacy Keibler
The model added to a message to James, “And while your physical body may no longer be here, I know your spirit is doing big things. I feel it already.”
‘We may have lost a good one here on earth… but heaven gained something extraordinary,” she wrote. “I will think of you every time I watch a sunset. Every time I see a rainbow stretch across the sky. I’ll know you’re there.”
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Indeed, the Varsity Blues actor—dad to kids Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4, with Kimberly—approached life in a different way after being diagnosed with cancer in 2023. As he once put it, “Presence is really the gift that cancer has given me.”
“Before cancer, I took all these little beautiful moments as part of a collection,” he told Today in December. “Now, I’m able much more to just settle into that exact moment.”
For more moving tributes to James, read on.
Mary Margaret-Humes/Instagram
Mary Margaret-Humes
“Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception,” Mary, who starred as James’ mother on Dawson’s Creek wrote on Instagram. “James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity. I will always love and admire you for that.
“Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping,” she shared. “To our extended Dawson’s Creek family of friends … please be respectful of our silences at the moment as Beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now.”
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Krysten Ritter
“Really hard news today,” Krysten—who starred with James on Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23, in which he played a heightened version of himself—posted to Instagram Stories. “Love you so much James and fake James.”
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Erin Fetherston
“Brother James, You were loved by the whole world, but to us — you were Uncle James,” the fashion designer posted to Instagram. “Thank you for your friendship. For always showing up. For being the one who would go the extra mile. When our dog died in the middle of the night, you were the one who came over with a shovel. When our babies were born, you and @vanderkimberly were the very first visitors — you didn’t just celebrate our milestones, you were part of them.”
“What an honor it was to have a seat at your table and to call you a best friend,” she continued. “The space you leave behind can never be filled, but we will do our best to shower your beautiful family with love and remember to keep dancing in your honor — because you always knew the importance of joy. We love you. Always.”
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Kerr Smith
“I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother,” is Dawson’s Creek costar wrote. “I’ll miss him deeply. Rest easy.”
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Busy Philipps
“My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today…every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister,” Busy, who worked with James on Dawson’s Creek, wrote in a post. “But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children.”
She added, “James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and i don’t know what else to say. i am just so so sad. He was my friend and I loved him and i’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.”
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Ashton Kutcher
“Had the good fortune of knowing and growing with this guy,” Ashton wrote in a post on X. “Rip.”
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Benito “Benny Drama” Skinner
The Overcompensating star and writer, who worked with James on the Prime Video series, wrote in an Instagram Story, “A legend in every way.”
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Jenna Johnson
“An incredible father, husband, artist, and so much more,” the Dancing With the Stars pro commented. “Sending your family all the love and comfort.”
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Claire Coffee
“I worked with James so many years ago and he remains one of the kindest, wisest, most generous scene partners I’ve ever had,” the Franklin & Bash alum wrote. “What a beautiful legacy he leaves. Sending so much love.”
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Lin Manuel Miranda
After the news of the Dawson’s Creek star’s death broke, the Hamilton writer shared a selfie with his family from the show’s 2025 reunion, writing, “My whole heart is with the Van Der Beek family today.”
Stacy Kiebler/Instagram
Stacy Kiebler
“You showed me what it looks like to trust God’s plan, even when it breaks your heart,” she wrote on Instagram. “Especially when it breaks your heart.”
She continued, “The other night we watched the sunset together as you shared your wisdom, your hopes, and the promises we made to each other. We talked about how this world can feel upside down…and how maybe heaven needs your spirit now to help steady us down here. And just as the sun slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky…as if to remind us that none of this is random.”
As she put it, “You are a gift.”
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Danica McKellar
“A beautiful soul and unthinkably tragic loss,” she noted on Instagram. “Sending prayers of peace to your family as you process this. We are all by your side.”
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Kate Walsh
Sharing she was feeling heartbroken, the Grey’s Anatomy alum added, “Sending love, light & strength to you dear @vanderkimberly.”
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Jennifer Garner
“What a heartbreaking loss,” the actress wrote. “So much love to you, Kimberly, and to your kids, as you navigate this tender time.”
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Christie Brinkley
“His kindness radiated, his love for his family was palpable it sparkled , everybody loved him,” she reflected. “My most heartfelt condolences go out to his beautiful family he adored.”
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Nikki Reed
“You beautiful soul,” she began. “Anyone who had the privilege of knowing you is forever changed by you. Your depth, your presence, your unparalleled love for your family. The connection you and Kimberly have that transcends lifetimes. You still hold the prize for wisest person I’ve ever known. Every piece of advice, every nugget of life experience you shared was a treasure I’ll hold close forever.”
She continued, “And don’t even get me started on the gift you had with words. When you picked up your pen, you made all of us remember what tenderness feels like on a page. Oh James, you are so so so deeply loved. And so so deeply missed. My heart aches and I’m sure the ripples of those aches will be felt forever.”
“And Kimberly,” the Twilight alum added, “we are all wrapping you and those sweet babies in love. My special sister, you and James are the greatest example of love I’ve ever known. Here for you in every way, forever.”
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Melissa Joan Hart
“I’m heartbroken to hear that @vanderjames has passed away,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “He was truly a nice guy, a great father, wonderful actor and will always be my first on screen kiss when he guest starred on #ClarissaExplainsItAll.”
She continued, “Gone way too soon but it seems like he put up one hell of a fight. We ran into each other at the singing game show #WeAreFamily about two years ago when he sang a song with his daughter, encouraging her like a good dad does. My thoughts and prayers go out to his 6 kids, his wife and family!”
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Emma Slater
The DWTS pro, who competed with James on the show’s 28th season, wrote, “I’m so devastated. He is and will always be family to me. Love you so much James. The man that you are, you can be proud of. So grateful that I got to be there to say goodbye to you.”
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Olivia Munn
“I’m so sorry,” she wrote. “My prayers are with you and your beautiful family.”
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Katharine McPhee Foster
“This is just beyond devastating news,” she said. “I’m so so sorry for your loss. God bless you all.”
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Paul Walter Hauser
“Love you, James,” Paul wrote on Instagram. “I know you’re in Heaven being pampered with love. The Van Der Beeks will be in our daily prayers and we’ll be drumming up some money to support your beautiful family.”
“Thanks for the body of work,” he added, “and for being one of the good guys.”
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Daniella Karagach
The Dancing With the Stars pro wrote, “Sending so much love and prayers.”
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Jenna Dewan
“I will always and forever remember your sweet gentle soul,” she shared. “My love and prayers with Kim and the entire family.”
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Chad Michael Murray
“Sending love and light to your beautiful family,” the One Tree Hill alum wrote. “James was a giant. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys.”
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Erin Foster
As she wrote on Instagram, “Sending so much love to your family.”
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Rumer Willis
“My dear wonderful friends I love you all, I am keeping you all in my heart,” she wrote in the comments of the psot announcing James’ passing. “Im so lucky to have had you in my life for so long. James set the bar as a husband and a father and big brother (to me) I am so grateful to have witnessed your love and respect and care for each other.”
She added, “Sending all the love and light to you all.”
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Alfonso Ribeiro
“I am broken,” the DWTS host wrote on Instagram. “So happy to have him in my life. Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye.”
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Sarah Michelle Gellar
“I’m so sad for your beautiful family,” she wrote on Instagram. “While James legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. Fuck Cancer.”
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Hilaria Baldwin
She shared her love in the comments, writing, “Sending so much love. I’m so sorry.”
Hayley Kiyoko
Under James’ family’s post confirming he had died, the Lemonade Mouth actress wrote, “I am so incredibly sorry for you and your family. He always led with kindness and love. His light will carry on.”
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