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james van der beek dies at 48: actor left Hollywood for Texas ranch to raise six kids
James Van Der Beek’s family and supporters are mourning his passing after a battle with cancer. The former Dawson’s Creek star was 48.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. In recent years Van Der Beek stepped away from the Hollywood pace and settled on a Texas ranch, seeking a quieter environment where his children could grow up with more normalcy.
The move gave him space for the simple family moments he valued. In a 2023 interview he spoke about slowing down to savor time with his wife and kids, and about the joys of outdoor life away from the spotlight.
On the ranch, the children could run outside, explore, climb trees and build forts. The family created a small nature program where the kids start the day with activities like making morning fires. Van Der Beek said the weather, landscape and chance to be outdoors fit their family better than city life ever did.
Living on the land also brought a new awareness of natural cycles. He described paying attention to sunrise and sunset, noticing the moon’s phases, and appreciating rainfall after dry spells. Planting a garden and watching the property shift from parched to green were parts of the lessons he hoped would connect his children to the seasons.
Originally from Connecticut and later living in Los Angeles, Van Der Beek welcomed the practical challenges of ranch life. He called tasks like fixing a broken water pump “adventures,” and said he wanted to model curiosity and hands-on learning for his kids — encouraging them to tackle problems, pick up new skills and figure things out themselves.
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