Today is James Van Der Beek’s first birthday since his passing, and his daughter Emilia marked the occasion by sharing a heartbreaking (yet heartwarming) message to her mother’s Instagram account.
The 12-year-old walked outside, recorded a video on her own, and asked her mom Kimberly to post it to Instagram. In it, she speaks directly to anyone who has lost someone they love, sharing the things that have helped her get through the grief of losing her father.
What Did James Van Der Beek’s Daughter Say About Him?
“Hi, my name is Emilia Van Der Beek,” she begins. “As you all probably know, my dad has passed away. But I’m just going to tell you little tips — anything that helps you getting through anybody you love passing.”
Her advice is wise beyond her years. She talks about the importance of letting your emotions out — crying, being angry, being sad — and not letting anyone tell you they know how you feel. “Everybody has different emotions in their body, and they express it in different ways,” she says. “Don’t let anybody tell you that. Be like, no, you don’t know how I feel.”
Most movingly, she describes the ritual that gets her through each day. “I talk to my dad every day,” she says. “I start with a sentence and I say, ‘Hi dad, I miss you, and I love you so much, and I’ll never stop loving you.’ And I just tell him about my day, how I’m feeling.”
She also shares something small and concrete that has brought her comfort. “I stole his hat,” she says. “I steal anything of theirs and just keep it. My dad’s hat smells like him. And I love it so much.”
She capped off her message with something her father told her before he passed. “Something my dad told me was, if this doesn’t work out the way he wanted it to — for him living — I still have to believe in miracles. Miracles can still happen, just later on in life.”
Kimberly Van Der Beek shared the video with a simple caption. “Emilia asked me if she could make a video to post today, walked outside and came back with this,” she wrote. “James… We will celebrate March 8th every day for the rest of our lives.”
Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on the hit series Dawson’s Creek, passed away in December 2024 after a battle with colorectal cancer. He was 47. He and Kimberly had six children together.