Emilia posted a video on Instagram on what would have been the Dawson’s Creek star’s 49th birthday, Sunday, March 8, marking his first birthday after his death. In the video, she expressed comfort in the thought that her father is at peace, saying, “I know that my dad’s in a good place. He’s not in pain anymore.”
Van Der Beek, 48, passed away on February 11 at his Austin, Texas home following a battle with cancer. He had previously revealed in late 2024 that he was diagnosed with cancer after a routine colonoscopy the year before.
Kimberly Van Der Beek, James’s widow and mother of their six children, shared Emilia’s video with a heartfelt caption, after posting her own birthday tribute to her late husband. She wrote, “Emilia asked me if she could make a video to post today, walked outside and came back with this.” She added, “All I want to do is watch videos of him right now with the kids. Thank you for the tremendous heart, love and support for the family,” closing with emojis of a pink heart and teary-eyed smile and saying, “James… We will celebrate March 8th every day for the rest of our lives.”
Emilia, the fourth of six children, is joined by siblings Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. In the video, she is seen sitting outside wearing an oversized trucker hat she explained she “stole” from her dad as a keepsake.
Speaking directly to the camera, Emilia shared her process of coping with loss and offered advice for others grieving loved ones. She said, “So today is my dad’s birthday, and the number one thing for somebody’s passing is to talk to them and let your emotions out. If you miss them, you can cry. You can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day.” She explained that she begins her conversations with her father by saying, “Hi, Dad. I miss you and I love you so much, and I’ll never stop loving you,” before telling him about her day and how she’s feeling.
Emilia described keeping her father close in her heart, saying, “You have to feel them in your heart, because they’re in your heart. They’re watching over you. They’re a part of your body and in a good place. I know that my dad’s in a good place. He’s not in pain anymore. He’s in heaven above the clouds with God and the Lord.” She also addressed others coping with loss, encouraging them to allow themselves to feel happiness that their loved one is at peace while still mourning their absence.
In the video, she also shared a lesson her father taught her: “Something my dad told me was if this doesn’t work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have to believe in miracles. Miracles can still happen, just later on in life, and they’ll keep coming.”
Emilia explained that keeping physical reminders of her father helps her feel connected to him, mentioning the hat she “stole,” which still carries his scent. She concluded by reflecting on the love her father received, acknowledging supporters and donors to a GoFundMe set up to help the family, saying, “I know that he was a good man. A lot of people loved him, and people prayed for him, and he was loved by … many, many people.”
This heartfelt tribute shows Emilia’s resilience and her effort to honor her father’s memory while navigating her grief at such a young age.
