James Van Der Beek‘s close friend is describing his family’s “urgent” need for money after his death.
“I’m just so happy and grateful that so many people feel moved in their hearts the way that those of us close feel,” designer Erin Fetherston told ExtraTV on Thursday, February 12, as the actor’s family raised more than $2 million in donations via GoFundMe. “There is a sincere and urgent need here for the family. They have really been through it, and I just want to thank everyone on their behalf who has given and who may feel inspired to give.”
Following his battle with stage III colorectal cancer, James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and loved ones are struggling to stay afloat.
“These are six children who are facing life without a father,” Fetherston, 44, added. “Their amazing mother Kimberly has been a devoted wife and mom. She’s had six children and been public about losing babies along the way. She has been in the space of motherhood and supporting James all of these years. Now, she’s really left to pick up the pieces.”
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Fetherston continued: “By supporting them, you’re helping them just maintain some stability in their life after going through a terribly challenging, painful, and heartbreaking journey that has ended in the loss of their father.”
Kimberly, 43, shared kids Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with James. The couple, who got married in 2010, previously revealed that Kimberly suffered five pregnancy losses.
In November 2024, James announced his stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis, writing via Instagram, “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
James was candid about his efforts to raise money for his treatment, which included selling memorabilia from his roles on Variety Blues and Dawson’s Creek. Fetherston told ExtraTV that James wasn’t able to work for the past two years.
“They tried everything to save his life,” she said. “And it’s just so hard that he’s gone now and also to be facing after already losing such a tremendous parent is nothing that I want to see them go through.”
Fetherston offered insight into her final moments with James, who died Wednesday, February 11, at age 48.
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“We all really held faith for a positive, miraculous outcome until the very end. James and Kimberly maintained such positivity through this journey, such high consciousness, always holding for a miracle, doing everything they could, trying everything,” she shared. “I mean, James, he put so much effort with all his strength to do this, and he did it with such grace, with a smile, still taking time to ask, ‘How are you doing? What can I do for you?’ I just did not imagine that this could happen.”
Fetherston expressed gratitude for the time she spent with James before his death, adding, “I had the chance to do that and say goodbye and see him. And even at the end, you know, I said to Kimberly, like, ‘He’s still beautiful.’ After everything he’s been through, he’s still emanating his love.”
Seeing such a “beautiful community” rally around James was meaningful for Fetherston.
“I think he really felt supported by all the love and the people who were able to be there at the end,” she continued. “He was just absolutely his authentic self until the very end — including people, making everyone a family, helping us all connect to one another.”
She concluded: “He leaves behind this incredible legacy of the most beautiful, kind family, and the most beautiful family of friends that would have never found one another had it not been for James and Kimberly and their open-hearted, generous way of living.”
Kimberly revealed on Wednesday that friends set up the GoFundMe for her family, sharing the link to donate via her Instagram Story “with gratitude and a broken heart.” Derek Hough, Zoe Saldaña and Steven Spielberg were among the A-list contributors.
