Kimberly Van Der Beek has shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband following his recent passing. She reposted an acoustic cover of “I Don’t Want to Wait” – the theme song from James Van Der Beek’s beloved series Dawson’s Creek – performed by Alana Springsteen, Sara Bares, and Lauren LaRue. The singers dedicated their rendition to the actor, with Springsteen writing: “RIP James Van Der Beek… this loss hit me hard today. So much girlhood was lived to the backdrop of his work,” while encouraging support for a GoFundMe campaign for his family.
Original singer Paula Cole also reacted emotionally to the cover, commenting: “So beautiful. Tears and more tears. Thank you for honoring James and his family.” Kimberly later shared the musical homage via Instagram Stories.
The actor passed away at age 48 after fighting colorectal cancer. His wife announced his death Wednesday, stating: “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” while requesting privacy as the family grieves. The couple had been married since 2010 and shared five children.