James Van Der Beek Celebrates His 6th Child as a ‘Blessing’

James Van Der Beek‘s touching remarks about his family have surfaced following the Dawson’s Creek star’s passing at the age of 48.

The actor expressed that his family felt complete after he and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, welcomed their sixth child, Jeremiah, in October 2021.

“He’s truly been a blessing,” the actor told People in a November 2022 interview, which published on Friday, February 13, following his death.

“I know this might sound strange, but when he arrived, we honestly thought, ‘Oh my God, how did we ever exist without him?’ Which feels insane given that we had five children before,” James, who passed away on Wednesday, February 11, after a battle with stage III colorectal cancer, shared with the outlet.

He added, “But considering everything we went through before him, having a boy felt incredibly healing for us.”

Besides Jeremiah, James and Kimberly are also parents to Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 9; and Gwendolyn, 7. The couple experienced pregnancy losses in 2019 and 2020 prior to welcoming their “rainbow baby,” Jeremiah.

“He really anchors the family in a beautiful way. The girls care for him immensely. My son has a brother, and yeah, he’s just this magical little king who gets everything he wants,” James said. “And he’s not shy about asking for it.”

James frequently expressed the importance of his family. To commemorate his 48th birthday in March 2025, the Varsity Blues star reflected on how his cancer diagnosis changed his perspective on mortality and its effects on his family.

Labeling the past year as “the hardest of my life,” James described how his cancer diagnosis disrupted his self-image.

“In my younger days, I defined myself as an actor, which never felt truly fulfilling. Then I became a husband, and that felt much better. Finally, I became a father, and that was the ultimate,” he articulated, noting that he viewed himself as a “loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land.”

As physical limitations arose from his illness, James started questioning his purpose.

“This year, I confronted my own mortality head-on. I was face to face with death,” he added. “All the definitions that mattered to me were taken away. I was away for treatment, unable to support my wife or pick up my kids and be there for them.”

James concluded the video by asserting that he is still worthy of self-love, despite the changes in his life circumstances.

In November 2025, James once more looked back on his “challenging year” and expressed his gratitude for his wife, children, and loved ones for their steadfast support during his difficult health journey.

“I’m more thankful than ever to my superhuman wife, who has shown up in ways I never knew were possible. She has demonstrated what unconditional love is and the magic that comes with it. I am in awe of you, @vanderkimberly,” he shared on Instagram at that time.

Turning to his children, Van Der Beek said, “And of course, I’m incredibly grateful for the little army of hearts who keep me present, active, and inspired just by being themselves. I love you all beyond words.”