James Van Der Beek Celebrates 48th Birthday with Heartfelt Tributes from Wife Kimberly Amid Cancer Battle:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(728x410:730x412):format(webp)/James-Van-Der-Beek-030825-3844460f36d44012ae64935dd82271e6.jpg)
James Van Der Beek marked his 48th birthday with a touching tribute from his wife, Kimberly, as he continues his battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
On Saturday, March 8, Kimberly took to Instagram to share her heartfelt wishes for her husband, posting a series of candid photos of James with their six children.
“Happy Birthday @vanderjames. May our hearts continue to dance together for many, many, many more birthdays. You are a treasure,” she wrote. “I feel like the luckiest lady in the world to be married to you.”
She went on to express her hopes for the year ahead, wishing him “so much laughter, dancing, deepening connection with God, exceptional health and exquisite beauty all around – plus, of course, family snuggles, sunrises, sunsets, play, and restorative rest.” Her words subtly acknowledged James’ ongoing health battle, a journey he first opened up about in November when he revealed his diagnosis.
James Reflects on His Toughest Year:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(539x0:541x2):format(webp)/James-Van-Der-Beek-030825-1-0971be590d8b4f3897f11bd7bdd04922.jpg)
To mark his birthday, James shared a personal reflection on Instagram, posting a video where he spoke candidly about the profound lessons he has learned over the past year.
“It’s my birthday, and it has been the hardest year of my life,” he admitted. “And I wanted to share something that I learned with y’all.”
James recalled how he once defined himself—first as an actor, then as a husband, and ultimately as a father, a role he cherished deeply. However, facing his own mortality forced him to reevaluate those identities.
“When I had to look my own mortality in the eye, all of those definitions I cared so deeply about were stripped from me,” he shared.
During this challenging time, James found solace in faith and the unwavering support of his loved ones.
“I meditated, and the answer came through: I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist,” he revealed.
Kimberly’s Unwavering Support
In addition to the encouragement from his fans, James has had Kimberly by his side every step of the way. Speaking with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America in December, he praised his wife for her strength and unconditional love.
“She’s been amazing,” he said. “She’s really taught me what unconditional love is.”
James admitted that asking for help had never come easily to him, but his diagnosis forced him to lean on those around him.
“I’ve always tried to do everything for everybody and never asked for help myself,” he shared. “But this has put me in a position of having to receive help, and the beautiful blessing of that has been seeing how many people in my life have shown up.”
A Love Story Built on Strength
James also honored Kimberly in a heartfelt Valentine’s Day post, reminiscing about their first Valentine’s Day together and how their love has grown through life’s unexpected challenges.
“I never once thought there’d come a time when I’d need you to take care of me. But have you ever,” he wrote.
He concluded the post with a heartfelt message:
“@vanderkimberly, thank you for being on this Earth. Thank you for sticking by me. And thank you for being a guiding light in the lives of everyone lucky enough to know you. I’ll fall for you a million times over. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Holding Onto Hope
Despite the difficulties of the past year, James remains optimistic about his recovery. When he first shared his diagnosis, he reassured fans that he was actively working toward healing with the unwavering support of his family.
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he said at the time.
As he steps into another year of life, surrounded by love, faith, and hope, James continues to inspire those around him with his resilience and gratitude.