James Van Der Beek's Ex-Wife Heather McComb Shares Emotional Tribute After His Death at 48

Her words were quiet, but they landed like thunder. For the first time since James Van Der Beek's death at 48, his ex-wife has spoken out, and what she shared is both heartbreaking and unexpectedly powerful.

In a February 12, 2026, Instagram post, Heather McComb broke her silence with a deeply personal message and a black-and-white photo that instantly transported fans back to the days before fame changed everything.

According to her Instagram post, she began, "Thank you for [sic] everyone who has reached out. I appreciate and feel all your love. I am heartbroken over the loss of beloved James." It is the first time McComb has publicly addressed his passing, and her words feel raw, spiritual, and filled with gratitude.

"This picture is from my 21st birthday. "Dawson's Creek" hadn't even aired yet. This is how I will always see James innocent, kind and pure of heart," she wrote. Already, the image choice alone feels intentional, a glimpse of a time when they were simply two young people in love.

Before the Spotlight

Long before headlines and Hollywood contracts, Van Der Beek andMcComb were building a life together. As previously reported by PEOPLE, the former "Dawson's Creek" star and McComb got engaged in early 2003 and married over the Fourth of July weekend that year in Malibu.

The outdoor ceremony was attended by his costars Michelle Williams, Busy Phillips, and Soleil Moon Frye. When they separated in 2009, a rep said it was "totally amicable and they remain good friends." Still, the divorce later made waves. According to TMZ, James agreed to pay $7,750 a month in spousal support, while retaining their Hollywood home and creative assets.

Yet if there were scars from that chapter, Heather's tribute suggests something deeper endured. "What a journey we shared over the years. I sit here in immense gratitude for the special connection, friendship and love that James and I shared that has endured through decades," McComb's post continued.

She described him as "a beautiful soul filled with so much light, love, talent, humor, depth, sensitivity, knowledge and a deep love of God that shined through him." But it is what she says next that truly shifts the tone and reveals a generosity many did not expect.

A Remarkable Tribute to James's Second Wife

In a moment that has stunned fans, McComb turned her focus to Van Der Beek's second wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek. "I am especially heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly, his beautiful children and his amazing family, Jim, Jared, Juliana, and all of his family and friends, who I know he loved deeply," she wrote.

Then came the line that feels destined to be quoted everywhere:

"I know that James loved being a father so much, and oh, how he loved Kimberly with his everything. True soulmates. How she showed up for him with such grace is so beautiful and something I will forever admire."

For an ex-wife to speak that way, publicly, tenderly, and without hesitation, is rare. It transforms the tribute from remembrance into something even more profound: acceptance, admiration, and grace.She closed with a prayerful message:

"God, please hold Kimberly, his children, his family, and everyone who is mourning his loss in your arms. You are the healer of all healers. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing this beautiful soul into the world and into all of our lives. I love you, James."

She continued, "I know you had a lot of loved ones up there welcoming you home. God bless you. Till we meet again, you sweet soul you. Prayers up 🙏❤️" Heather also urged support for his loved ones, writing, "James family meant everything to him please help cover them during this difficult season. Link to go fund me in my stories [sic]."

The Photo That Stops You in Your Tracks

And then there is the image itself. In the black-and-white snapshot, a young McCombs beams at the camera, her long hair down and held back with a thin headband. Van Der Beek stands behind her, arms wrapped around her shoulders, smiling softly, his 1990s middle-part hairstyle instantly recognizable.

The background is simple and blurred, keeping the focus entirely on the couple. The mood is intimate, playful, almost frozen in time, a memory untouched by fame, divorce, or tragedy.

It is a photo that feels less like a press image and more like a cherished keepsake. And perhaps that is why her words resonate so deeply. Because beneath the headlines and Hollywood history, what remains is something simpler: a shared past, a lasting bond, and a final goodbye filled not with bitterness, but with gratitude.

While McComb's tribute offered a tender look back at the love and history they once shared, Van Der Beek’s final chapter is still unfolding through the deeply personal memories and sacred final moments now being revealed by those who stood beside him at the very end.

Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly, announced on Instagram that he passed away peacefully on February 11, 2026, following a battle with cancer.

As news of his passing spread, tributes began pouring in from those who had stood beside him in his final weeks. Through personal photos and heartfelt reflections, friends offered a rare glimpse into the deeply intimate moments that defined his last chapter.

Stacy Keibler's Sunset Goodbye

On Instagram, retired professional wrestler Stacy Keibler described spending what she called his final days by his side, calling the time a true gift from God.

"When you know time is sacred, you don't waste a single breath. You don’t rush. You don't scroll. You don't worry about tomorrow," she wrote, reflecting on the stillness they shared.

One image shows Van Der Beek seated in a wheelchair, looking out across an open landscape as Keibler kneels beside him. She recalled watching the sunset with him just nights before his passing.

"And just as the sun slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky…as if to remind us that none of this is random," she wrote, later adding that while the world lost someone extraordinary, heaven gained something remarkable.

Erin Fetherston's Intimate Farewell

Fashion designer Erin Fetherston shared her tribute on Instagram, remembering him not as a public figure, but as family. "You were loved by the whole world, but to us — you were Uncle James," she wrote.

Among the photos she posted is a deeply personal bedside image. Van Der Beek lies in bed, smiling softly, as a loved one clasps his hands and leans in close, a quiet exchange filled with warmth and unspoken understanding.

"The space you leave behind can never be filled," Fetherston continued, promising to support his family and keep dancing in his honor because he always knew the importance of joy.

Mehcad Brooks' Final Vigil

Actor Mehcad Brooks shared one of the most raw and intimate reflections of Van Der Beek's final days. In a visibly emotional video posted on Instagram, Brooks revealed he was by his friend's side for the last four or five days — not as a colleague, but as a brother.

"One of the greatest honors in my life was that I got to be there...And hold his hand, and pray with him and tell him jokes, and tell him how much I love him," Brooks said, his voice heavy with emotion.

He described singing to him, praying with him, and witnessing what he called an extraordinary kind of strength. "I truly just watched this man handle death like a king. He handled the transition like a king," he recalled.

In a separate written tribute, he called Van Der Beek “an angel among us,” saying he handled the transition from flesh and blood to spirit and soul with grace and power.

Brooks ended his message with a promise to protect and support his family — a final act of loyalty that reflected the bond they shared.

Just a few months before his passing, Van Der Beek made what would become his final public appearance alongside his former castmates.

As previously reported, Van Der Beek, the beloved star who brought Dawson Leery to life over six unforgettable seasons, was too ill to attend the reunion event at New York's Richard Rodgers Theater on September 22, 2025.

But that didn't stop him from making his presence known in a way that left the audience in shock.

Though visibly frail, the 48-year-old actor appeared in a prerecorded message that quickly became the emotional centerpiece of the night.

Dressed in a brown leather jacket, white T-shirt, and flat plaid cap, Van Der Beek delivered a heartfelt tribute to his castmates, the fans, and the show that defined a generation.

"I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I don't get to hug my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person," he confessed in the clip, full of longing.

A Bittersweet Night for the "Creek" Family

Although "Dawson's Creek" favorites Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps lit up the stage, something vital was missing.

Dawson himself.

Still, Van Der Beek's touching video message helped fill the void. He thanked the audience, calling "Dawson's Creek" watchers "the best fans in the world," and went on to introduce none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda — his stand-in for the evening.

Shocked Reactions Flood Social Media

Clips of the moment quickly circulated online, where the outpouring of love turned to concern as fans reacted to the actor's gaunt appearance.

"Why everything feels like a farewell [sic]??" someone commented on Instagram. One person implored, "Oh this breaks my heart 😢 praying for healing 🙏," while someone else echoed, "Breaks my heart seeing him this thin I pray he can beat this cancer [sic]."

Still, amidst the sadness, there was a flicker of celebration for the reunion, which was held in benefit of the nonprofit F Cancer and Van Der Beek himself.

"We gave them like a 5 min standing ovation. It was amazing!" someone expressed on Instagram, while another said, "Oh wow thank you so much for posting these for us!! I wish he made it, but I get why he couldn't. It was so nice of everyone to do this for him 😭❤️."

A Gutted Star and a Family's Presence

Van Der Beek had already announced on September 21, just one day before the event organized by Michelle Williams, that illness would keep him away.

"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," he revealed on Instagram.

Still, his spirit was there, and so was his family. His wife, Kimberly, and their six children attended the event in his place and joined the cast on stage during a heartwarming group sing-along of the show's iconic theme song.

"Everyone, please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family. I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin," Van Der Beek added.

Van Der Beek is remembered by friends, family, and fans for both his work and the way he lived his life. As loved ones mourn privately, many continue to honor his memory and the impact he had on those around him.

In the end, it was not just the actor the world mourned, but the husband, father, friend, and man of faith those closest to him knew so intimately.

From Heather's graceful goodbye to the sacred bedside moments shared by friends, James's final chapter was defined not by illness but by love, loyalty, and light, a legacy that, as the photos so powerfully reveal, will continue to shine long after the curtain has fallen.