Daughter of Late Actor James Van Der Beek Shares Advice on Grief in Emotional Video

‘I talk to my dad every day,’ said the 9-year-old in the video, ‘and I start with a sentence and I say, ‘Hi, Dad. I miss you.’

James Van Der Beek arrives at the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2019. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Nine-year-old Emilia Van Der Beek is offering a heartfelt perspective on grief after the death of her father, actor James Van Der Beek.

In a video shared March 8 on Instagram by her mother, Kimberly Van Der Beek, Emilia addressed viewers directly while reflecting on what would have been her father’s birthday. In the clip, she explained how she copes with the loss and offered what she described as “little tips” for those experiencing similar grief.

“So today is my dad’s birthday, and the No. 1 thing for somebody’s passing is to talk to them and let your emotions out,” Emilia said in the video. “I talk to my dad every day, and 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.’”

She continued by explaining how she maintains that connection. “I just tell him about my day, how I’m feeling,” she said, adding that she believes he can still hear her even though she cannot hear him.

Van Der Beek, known for his roles on the television drama “Dawson’s Creek” and the film “Varsity Blues,” died Feb. 11 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48. The actor publicly revealed his diagnosis in November 2024, noting that the illness had first been detected following a routine colonoscopy in August 2023.

News of his death was confirmed by Kimberly Van Der Beek in an Instagram post at the time.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote in the message. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”

The couple, who married in 2010, share six children: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah.

In the birthday video, Emilia described how she believes her father remains present in spirit. “You have to feel them in your heart, because they’re in your heart,” she said. “They’re watching over you.”

She also encouraged others to allow themselves to experience a range of emotions following a loss. “Everybody has different emotions in their body, and they express it in different ways,” she said, adding that people should not allow others to tell them how they should feel.

In the caption accompanying the video, Kimberly Van Der Beek said the message came directly from her daughter’s own initiative.

“Emilia asked me if she could make a video to post today,” she wrote. “Walked outside and came back with this.”

Support for the family has also come from fans and friends through a fundraising effort created to assist them in the wake of the actor’s death. Emilia referenced the donations in her remarks, thanking those who had contributed and expressing appreciation for the support shown to her family.

“A lot of people loved him,” she said in the video. “And people prayed for him.”