The big secret James Van Der Beek and wife Kimberly kept in the days before his death

The wife of late actor James Van Der Beek has revealed the couple secretly renewed their wedding vows just days before his death on February 11.

Kimberly Van Der Beek described the ceremony as "simple, beautiful and moving," holding the ceremony from his bed surrounded by loved ones in person and on Zoom.

"We decided two days beforehand and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles and we renewed our vows from bed," she told People.

Their close friend, instrumentalist Poranguí, played beautiful music throughout and even closed the ceremony with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

The couple first wed on August 1, 2010, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The late Dawson's Creek actor previously reflected on their big day in a post shared to his Instagram page.

"We rushed to get ready, had a bunch of people we didn't know (and a few we did) dance around us, got ambushed by Israeli paparazzi afterwards, then ate at an outdoor Lebanese dive with plastic tablecloths and chairs and amazing food... and we were off," he recalled.

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He also reflected on their marriage, added: "We've gone through success, tragedy, joy, stress, triumph, uncertainty, and through it all… these have been the best years of my life. Every moment.

"Because I have the BEST adventure partner. Our life is CRAZY right now. We might be crazier. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

The producer and former actress, who has appeared in films including Teenage Paparazzo, Katie's Crib and Home Movie: The Princess Bride, was by Van Der Beek's side ever since they met in Israel in 2009.

After the couple married, they welcomed six children together and moved from Los Angeles to Texas.

In a 2020 Instagram post, Van Der Beek reflected on their first meeting.

"I'd been famous, been wealthy, been married, been divorced, been less-than-wealthy, been single... and I was in Israel, on a trip with an organised group, when it hit me: I was done being single," he wrote.

"I wanted a real relationship. A soul mate. Someone with whom I could build a family.

"I was mid-revelation, rattling all this off to a friend of mine when a voice interrupted us, wanting to ask him a question. I was annoyed. Who the hell was stepping all over my moment? I turned around... it was @vanderkimberly."

Van Der Beek continued, "Three days later, I asked her what she was looking for in a relationship. Her answer: 'I'm not looking for a relationship.'

"Six months later we were living together. Two weeks after that we were pregnant, and almost exactly one year to the date after she'd first interrupted me... we were married."

Their first child, daughter Olivia, arrived just over a month later, on September 25, 2010.

They welcomed son, Joshua, just 18 months later, in March 2012, before daughter Annabel Leah arrived in January 2014.

Just two years later, daughter Emilia was born in March 2016, followed by another girl, Gwendolyn in June 2018.

Son Jeremiah was born in October 2021.

Van Der Beek announced in November 2024 he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer the previous year, when he was 46, telling People he was forced to go public after learning a media outlet was going to break the story.

After his diagnosis, the actor was involved in a number of initiatives to advocate for cancer.

He also sold off signed merchandise to raise money for his own and other families "recovering from the financial burden of cancer".

On February 12, 2026, (AEST) Kimberly confirmed the sad news the actor had died. He was 49.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," she wrote.

"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.

"For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

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