James Van Der Beek’s last Instagram post marked daughter’s birthday weeks before death

The actor’s final social media message reflected on family and was shared less than a month before he died at 48

James Van Der Beek’s last Instagram post before his death was a birthday message dedicated to his 12-year-old daughter, Annabel, who shares her birthday with the actor’s father.

Van Der Beek died at age 48, his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek announced on Wednesday, February 11. The couple married in 2010 and had six children: Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 7; and Jeremiah, 4.

On January 25, the Dawson’s Creek actor posted a photo of himself hugging Annabel and reflected on the shared birthday between his daughter and his father.

“My father and my daughter share a birthday today. At first, I thought that was all they shared — they seemed so different to me,” he wrote. “But as the two of you have evolved, and let more of who you are shine through, I can recognize the same open, warm, loving, gentle heart.”

He added that both displayed “out-of-the-box Aquarian creativity and originality” and said they each had a way of influencing the atmosphere in a room.

“In this crazy world, it’s a wonder to me that you’ve managed to stay so open, so tender, and so genuinely good,” he concluded.

The post was his final message shared publicly on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT9DK5pDr8O/?igsh=MXd3ZWljODY3ZXhtMQ==

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and publicly disclosed the diagnosis in November 2024. At the time, he said he had been managing the condition privately with the support of his family.

In an interview that aired in December 2025, he said he was feeling better than he had in previous months and described the experience as requiring patience and discipline.

He was unable to attend a September 2025 Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event in New York but addressed attendees through a video message. Kimberly and their children attended in person.

Kimberly’s most recent Instagram post featuring the actor was shared in December 2025.