James Van Der Beek’s brother, Jared Van Der Beek, posted an emotional tribute this weekend after the actor’s death at 48, describing a grief that “runs so deep in the heart, I didn’t know it would hurt so badly.”
In the Instagram message, Jared wrote that he had turned to his brother “for any and all things,” and said the flood of messages from friends and fans has offered comfort. “I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you,” he wrote, thanking people who helped make his brother’s final days “as beautiful as possible.”
Kimberly Van Der Beek announced the death on Instagram, saying he “passed peacefully” and asking for privacy for their family. The actor had publicly disclosed a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in late 2024, after an initial diagnosis in 2023, and had spoken in interviews about leaning on his wife and children during treatment.
Supporters then pushed a GoFundMe for the family past $2 million in a matter of days, according to organizer updates and reporting on the campaign. The donations included $25,000 from Steven Spielberg, a contribution that became a flashpoint in online debate about fundraising for public figures even as organizers said the money would cover living costs and the children’s education.
The actor’s death has also renewed attention on screening and early detection. The American Cancer Society advises average-risk adults to begin regular colorectal cancer screening at 45, echoing federal preventive-care guidance. Medical experts have warned that colorectal cancer cases among younger adults have climbed for years, with symptoms that can be easy to dismiss.
