Fundraiser for children and widow of James Van Der Beek surpasses $1M

The initial $500,000 goal was surpassed within hours

The Dawson's Creek actor died on Tuesday, aged 48.

He had been open about struggling to meet the expenses of his cancer treatment in the past.

Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on the TV series Dawson's Creek, is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

After announcing his death via a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Kimberly also published a link to the 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.”

As stated on the GoFundMe, 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 actor had always been open about the stress of his medical expenses. Shortly after he shared the news of his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, he started auctioning off memorabilia from the movie Varsity Blues to help with treatment costs for himself and other cancer patients.

He wrote on Instagram: “100% of my net proceeds will go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own 😇).”

Just last year, he also 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.”