James Van Der Beek’s brother speaks through heartbreak.
Days after Dawson’s Creek star died aged 48 after a nearly three-year battle with colon cancer, Jared Van Der Beek shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, opening up about the pain of losing his “person”.
“There is a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago that physical bond was broken,” Jared wrote alongside a carousel of photos, including a sweet photo of James cheering him on at his graduation. “I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a sense of devastation and pain that goes so deep in the heart, I didn’t know it would hurt so much.”
He described his older brother as a constant source of guidance and strength. “He was my go-to person for all things. I looked up to him since I was born. He never failed to be there for me when I needed him.”
Amidst the grief, Jared said he has found comfort in seeing how much James was loved. “He shared with an open heart and with his wise soul,” he wrote, adding, “healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers and support.”
He ended with a message directly to James: “I already miss your physical being and your words of wisdom over the phone… Thank you for living your life with me. I love you.”
