James Van Der Beek tragically passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48, following his battle with colorectal cancer. However, no official cause of death was released at the time, with the family sharing a statement on social media to announce the news.
But now, there’s a new update regarding the potential cause of death.
According to US Weekly, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that there will be no written report following Van Der Beek’s death. Specifically, an autopsy won’t be performed.
New Details Revealed About James Van Der Beek’s Final Days
According to a new report by The Daily Mail, which included details shared by the actor’s friends, Van Der Beek spent the final weeks in hospice care surrounded by his family.
‘James was on hospice for several weeks and he was rail thin when he passed,’ a source told the outlet. ‘He was mostly in bed because he was very weak, and he was not eating.’
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia (born 2010), Annabel (2014), Emilia (2016), and Gwendolyn (2018), and sons Joshua (2012) and Jeremiah (2021).
“This is very hard for the family, they are totally broken over his passing because he was the patriarch, he was the leader,” the source added. “There are puddles of tears everywhere, and it all falls on Kimberly’s shoulders.”
With that, a GoFundMe was set up to help the family. On the site, they detail how “the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain,” and are now “facing an uncertain future.”
“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the GoFundMe added. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.”
James Van Der Beek Opened Up About His Cancer Diagnosis In Final TV Interview Before Passing
When speaking with Today’s Craig Melvin on December 19, 2025, which has now become Van Der Beek’s final interview, Van Der Beek opened up about his cancer diagnosis.
“I feel much, much better than I did a couple months ago,” he said at the time. “It’s been a longer journey than I ever thought it would be,” he said. “It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong — I didn’t know I was this strong. But I feel good.”
“As soon as I heard the news [about my colorectal cancer diagnosis], I went into shock,” he added. “One of the things I was really lucky about was, as soon as I heard the news, I thought, ‘This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
