Tributes have poured in following the tragic death of James Van Der Beek, who passed away aged 48 after a courageous battle with bowel cancer, leaving behind his wife Kimberley Brook and their six children.
But among the most devastating tributes came from his close friend Alfonso Ribeiro, who was by his side in the final hours of his life — and revealed that his last act was to make James laugh one final time.
The former Dawson’s Creek star, best known for playing Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek between 1998 and 2003, had been privately fighting cancer while surrounded by family and friends. In an emotional Instagram post, Ribeiro shared a deeply personal photograph taken just minutes before he said goodbye.
“This was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye,” he wrote. “My last moment was making him laugh one last time.”
The heartbreaking image shows Ribeiro cradling his friend’s head as James lay in bed, wearing a woven hat pulled low — a quiet, intimate moment between two men who had shared years of friendship.
Ribeiro, 54, who famously portrayed Carlton Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and also starred in Silver Spoons, revealed just how much James meant to him.
“I’m so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today,” he wrote. “He was my true friend, brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer.”
He described the agonising ups and downs of James’ illness, saying, “His family and friends went on this rollercoaster ride – the highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back.”
The grief was palpable as Ribeiro continued: “I’ve learned so much from James. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family.”
Ribeiro is godfather to James’ seven-year-old daughter, Gwendolyn — a role he says he will honour forever. “I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life.”
In a final, gut-wrenching farewell, he added: “I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.”
Actress Nicole Bilderback, who appeared alongside James on Dawson’s Creek, also paid tribute. Reflecting on their time filming together, she wrote: “Over the five episodes of Dawson’s I did, I am blessed and lucky to have had you in every single scene with me. You will be missed so dearly. Your kindness and light shines on in this world forever. This hurts. Rest in peace.”
As fans revisit Dawson’s Creek and remember the boy-next-door who defined a generation of teen drama, it is this final image — laughter in the face of goodbye — that now lingers most powerfully.
