Celebrity3 min(s) read
Alfonso Ribeiro shares heartbreaking ‘last goodbye’ with James Van Der Beek
Alfonso Ribeiro has shared a deeply personal tribute following the death of actor James Van Der Beek, revealing details of what he described as his “last goodbye” with his longtime friend. Van Der Beek died aged 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.
Ribeiro posted a photograph on Instagram showing the two men together at Van Der Beek’s bedside. In the image, Ribeiro holds his friend during what he indicated were his final hours. He said the photograph was taken by Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, just minutes before he said farewell.
In his caption, Ribeiro reflected on their final exchange, explaining that he tried to bring humor into the room. “My last moment was making him laugh one last time,” he wrote, adding, “I really miss him already.” He also shared an earlier photo of the pair from happier times, writing that “so much love lived in this friendship.”
A public farewell and a private loss
Van Der Beek’s death was announced on February 11 in a statement shared on social media by Kimberly Van Der Beek. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the statement said. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.” She also requested privacy for the family as they grieved.
Ribeiro, known for his long career in American television and as a current co host of “Dancing with the Stars,” described Van Der Beek as a “true friend,” “brother,” and “life guide.” He said he stood by him throughout his fight against cancer and pledged to continue supporting his children. Ribeiro is also the godfather of Van Der Beek’s daughter, Gwendolyn, a role he called one of the most important in his life. He said he would always be present for the family.
Van Der Beek had publicly shared that he was living with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Reports state he was diagnosed in 2023 and later disclosed the illness publicly.
A career that spanned decades
Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek began acting as a teenager and went on to build a career across television and film. He became widely known for playing Dawson Leery in the teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” which aired from 1998 to 2003 and helped define late 1990s teen television.
After the series concluded, he appeared in films including Varsity Blues, and later took on roles in television shows such as CSI: Cyber, Pose, and the meta comedy Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, where he portrayed a heightened version of himself. In 2019, he competed on Season 28 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Emma Slater. The show later became another point of connection with Ribeiro, who has hosted the program in recent seasons.
Following news of his death, a GoFundMe campaign was created to support Kimberly Van Der Beek and the couple’s six children. The fundraiser description, as cited in coverage of the campaign, stated the family was “out of funds” due to medical expenses and facing “an uncertain future.” The campaign quickly drew significant public support, including recurring donations. Reports identified a monthly contribution of $2,500 from actor Zoe Saldaña among the pledges.
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife and their children. His former wife, actor Heather McComb, also shared a tribute on Instagram reflecting on their history and the final words they exchanged.
Former WWE performer Stacy Keibler posted about spending time with him near the end of his life, writing: “Spending these final days with you has been a true gift from God,” and encouraged followers to focus on love and presence.
For many fans, Ribeiro’s bedside photograph captured a moment of friendship at the end of life. In his tribute, Ribeiro wrote that he believed Van Der Beek would remain with him as a “guardian angel.”