One Month Before His Death James Van Der Beek Bought a $4.7m Texas Ranch

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As a huge fan, it really touched me to learn about one of the last things James Van Der Beek did before he passed. Just weeks before he lost his battle with cancer on February 11th, he officially bought the beautiful Texas ranch his family had been renting for years. It was like he was making sure they’d always have a home there.

The sale closed on January 9th for $4.76 million, turning their rental into something truly lasting. It’s a gorgeous 36-acre property in Spicewood, near Austin, right on the Pedernales River. The house itself has over 5,000 square feet with five bedrooms and three bathrooms – plenty of room for his wife, Kimberly, and their six kids! There are also guest cabins and even a fun little tram that takes you down to the river. It really seemed to capture the relaxed, free-spirited lifestyle he found after leaving Los Angeles in 2020 – that ‘hippie cowboy’ vibe he loved.

I was so shocked and saddened to hear about Van Der Beek’s passing. It’s heartbreaking to learn that despite buying a new home, his family was really struggling financially because of the enormous medical bills. His close friends started a GoFundMe, and it revealed they’d used up all their savings during his two-year battle with cancer.

It’s amazing to see how many people have stepped up to help – they’ve already raised over $2.5 million to help his wife, Kimberly, and the kids with living expenses and to keep them in their home. In the last few months, he was so brave and open about how much the illness was taking out of him, both physically and emotionally.

He even shared that getting sick made him realize he was worthy of love just for being himself, which was so powerful. He was even auctioning off things from his career, like his jerseys from Varsity Blues and Dawson’s Creek memorabilia, just to try and cover the costs of treatment. It’s just incredibly sad and shows how much he was fighting for his family.

Even while dealing with health issues, the actor continued working as much as he could. He recently voiced a character on the animated show Vampirina and was writing a memoir about his life, including his experiences with fame and fatherhood. His last public appearance was a video message for a charity event, where he continued to support cancer awareness. James Van Der Beek was an actor for many years, but he’s best known for his role in the popular 1990s TV show Dawson’s Creek.

He also showed his versatility in films like The Rules of Attraction and Varsity Blues, where he played a high school quarterback in a small Texas town – a place he later made his home. He is survived by his wife and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.

The actor will be remembered for his dedication to protecting the natural land he loved, creating a peaceful haven for his children to connect with nature, just as he did in his later years. Following his passing, the Hollywood community is deeply saddened, and many former colleagues, like Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson, have shared memories of his genuine kindness and strong moral character.

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2026-02-14 13:44