James Van Der Beek’s family GoFundMe reaches $1.2m after Dawson’s Creek actor was forced to sell memorabilia to fund medical bills

James Van Der Beek’s family are being supported by GoFundMe donations after the actor and his family were plunged into financial turmoil before his death at the age of 48.

The Dawson’s Creek star died on Wednesday after a two year battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven and Jeremiah, four.

As Kimberly shared the news of her husband’s death, she revealed that friends had created the GoFundMe page with the goal of raising funds to support the late actor’s children. 

Fans and friends have so far raised over $1.2million in just seven hours. On the page friends wrote that ‘Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future.

‘The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer 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.

‘Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education.’

James spoke honestly about his family’s financial woes in social media posts about his treatment, explaining how he had been left unable to work and provide for his wife and children during his gruelling treatment. 

His extensive medical bills and living costs contributed to the hardship as James moved from the family’s remote Texas ranch, which they bought in 2020 after years living in Los Angeles, to an apartment closer to the hospital during treatment. 

In December James, also known for his roles in Varsity Blues, One Tree Hill and CSI: Cyber, was forced to sell off memorabilia from the set of Dawson’s Creek, bringing in $47,000.  

The necklace that his character, Dawson Leery, famously gifted Joey (played by Katie Holmes) went for $26,628. 

A collection of decorations from Dawson’s bedroom, including an Indiana Jones model kit and an ET doll, sold for $5,991, while a chairback went for $2,663.

‘I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them,’ James told People magazine at the time of the auction.

‘And with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now.’

He told the outlet that he did ‘have some nostalgia tugging at me’ as he parted ways with the physical memories, but added that it felt good to share them ‘with those who have supported my work over the years’.

A month after going public with his cancer diagnosis in 2024, James released fundraising merchandise tied to the 25th anniversary of his 1999 movie Varsity Blues. 

‘100% of my net proceeds will go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own),’ the actor confirmed at the time.

Meanwhile in September 2025 James’ co-stars rallied around him, organising a star-studded cast reunion at Broadway’s famed Richard Rodgers Theater to help raise funds for their friend.

Organised by James’s Dawson’s Creek love interest Michelle Williams alongside Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, the cast reunited for a read through of their show’s pilot episode to raise funds for James’ treatment and the nonprofit F Cancer.

James was due to appear at event but had to pull out of the reunion at the last minute due to his ill health. 

He instead appeared by video message, worrying fans with his frail appearance. ‘This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,’ he told fans.

‘So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.

‘Despite every effort … I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theatre for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.’ 

James shot to fame in the 90s as Dawson’s Creek teen heartthrob Dawson Leery when he was 20 years old.

The drama ran for six seasons on the WB Network between 1998 and 2003 and also launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson.

But while the show was a huge success, launching the careers of all four of its leads, James revealed that the cast received no income from reruns or streaming deals because of original contracts for the show.

‘There was no residual money,’ he revealed to Today in 2012. ‘I was 20. It was a bad contract. I saw almost nothing from that.’

He added that his early success went to his head when searching for roles after the show ended, and it was only when he realised he had to provide for his family that he began to be less selective over work.

‘You are incredibly fortunate whatever success falls on you, which is what happened with me,’ he said. ‘But as soon as that happens, I think there is a tendency to feel like you have something to lose. Or something to protect. That can often lead to taking yourself a little too seriously.’

James went on: ‘It is very easy if you have all the money in the world to just sit back and coast. But if you realised that you are going to have to start providing for yourself and for your family, it really forces you to buckle down.’

James did manage to shoot one final role during his treatment, filming scenes for a supporting role in Elle, which is based on the movie franchise Legally Blonde which starred Reese Witherspoon.

The series – which is being produced by Witherspoon – is a prequel starring Lexi Minetree as a young Elle Woods.

James will appear as Dean Wilson, a mayoral candidate and school district superintendent. He shot his scenes in May 2025. The series is set to premiere on Prime Video on July 1, 2026.