Ali Larter talks about James Van Der Beek’s death

James Van Der Beek’s friends are taking time to celebrate what he meant to them.

Two weeks after the Dawson’s Creek star, who announced his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024, passed away at age 48, his fellow SAG-AFTRA friends, including his Varsity Blues co-star Ali Larter, honored him at the 2026 Actor Awards ceremony on March 1.

“My heart goes out to Kimberly and his six beautiful children,” Larter told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet. “He had so much grace in his heart and I think that’s really what he gave to the world. My heart is with his family.”

On February 11, Kimberly Van Der Beek, James’ wife, announced that her husband of 15 years had passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” she said in a statement on social media. “He has so much to share, including his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time,” the message continued. “That day will come. We ask for peace and privacy at this time as we grieve for our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

Since then, the Varsity Blues alum’s loved ones – the father of his and Kimberly’s children Olivia (15), Joshua (13), Annabelle (12), Emilia (9), Gwendolyn (7) and Jeremiah (4) – have detailed their final days with him.