March 8 would've marked the late Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek's 49th birthday. The actor passed away on February 11 at the age of 48, a year after revealing his battle with colorectal cancer.
As Hollywood continues to mourn James, his widow Kimberly Van Der Beek took to social media to remember the good times she'd shared with her husband. James and Kimberly tied the knot in 2010, welcoming six kids together before his untimely passing.
The day of his death, some of the actor's friends put together a GoFundMe page to raise funds to support his young family in the months after his death. As of writing, the page has raised over $2.7 million, blowing past its initial $1.5 million goal.
Kimberly has remained out of the spotlight since James' passing, to devote more time to their kids, save for a tribute to his friend Eric Dane, who died shortly after aged 53 after a battle with ALS. Kimberly later posted a video from their daughter Emily similarly sharing her feelings on his birthday.
Take a walk down memory lane with Kimberly's emotional tribute to the late star on his bittersweet big day…
Kimberly began her lengthy tribute with a photo of the pair seemingly at a farmer's market together.
She included several photos that showcased his love for their kids: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, and Gwendolyn, seven, as well as sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, four.
© InstagramShe even included some shots from his tenure on Dancing with the Stars, including with his partner Emma Slater.
© InstagramHighlighting his many sweet qualities, she praised his "beauty. Presence. Tenderness. Protection. Safety. Creativity. Singing."
...plus his sense of adventure with their kids, and their deep love for the outdoors.
© InstagramKimberly closed things off with a heartbreaking: "Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer. This is a loss I don't know how to process...I will love you forever."
