Kimberly Van Der Beek marked her daughter Emilia’s 10th birthday by sharing a touching photo of Emilia with her late father, James Van Der Beek.
On Thursday, March 26, the 44-year-old mother of six posted the image to her Instagram Stories. The picture shows Emilia and James together, with the actor—known for Dawson’s Creek—wearing a fur-lined jacket, sweater, and cap as he leans toward his daughter. Emilia, dressed in an oversized sweatshirt, rests her arms on his shoulders and smiles gently.
“Just a few heavenly months ago. Missing you my love,” Kimberly wrote over the image.
The couple share six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4.
Earlier this month, Emilia opened up about her grief nearly a month after losing her father, who passed away at age 48 on Feb. 11 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“As you probably know, my dad has passed away,” she began, explaining she wanted to share “little tips” to help others cope with losing someone they love.
Marking his birthday, she said one of the most important things is expressing emotions and continuing to talk to the person you’ve lost. “If you miss them, you can cry. You can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day,” she said, sharing that she begins by telling him she misses and loves him.
She added that she speaks to him about her day and her feelings, and also shares those emotions with her family. “I know he can hear me, but I can’t hear him,” Emilia said.
In the video, she also described how she processes her grief, explaining that loved ones remain in your heart and continue to watch over you. She expressed belief that her father is now at peace, no longer in pain, and in a better place.
James publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, after it was discovered during a routine colonoscopy in August 2023. He said at the time he was focusing on his health and his family.
In February, Kimberly announced his passing on Instagram, sharing a professional photo of him and writing that he had died peacefully.