Beloved actor James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026 at age 48. In a heartfelt tribute, HGTV star Erin Napier recalled a sweet encounter with Van Der Beek that reflected his warmth and kindness.
Erin Napier Recalls Interaction With James Van Der Beek That Meant So Much
Following the news of Van Der Beek’s death, Napier took to her Instagram Stories to pay tribute.
“I spoke to him briefly in the revolving door of a hotel last year,” Napier recalled.
She continued, “Mae wanted to stay in it, spinning. I said, ‘come on baby, let’s let this man come through.’ Not knowing it was him.”
“He smiled big at Mae and said, ‘but MOM it’s so FUN!!!’ I looked up and recognized that face from my teenage life,” the HGTV star wrote.
“He was kind to a toddler and her tired mama. Just so you know,” Napier added. “Praying for his family tonight.”
James Van Der Beek’s Family Shared the Sad News
Van Der Beek’s family shared the sad news of his passing in a heartbreaking Instagram post.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the caption noted.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time,” they shared. “Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
In a December 2025 interview with “Today,” Van Der Beek gave a health update as he battled stage 3 colorectal cancer.
At the time, he shared, “I feel a little bit better every month. 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,” Van Der Beek added.
Upon hearing his diagnosis, the actor said, “I went into shock.”
Van Der Beek noted, “One of the things I was really lucky about was as soon as I heard the news, I thought, ‘This is gonna be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’ I had this little voice in my head that said, ‘You’re gonna make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn’t have this extreme of a diagnosis, and it’s gonna add healthy, happy years to your life.'”
