The ‘Dawson’s Creek’ alum, who died at the age of 48 on Feb. 11, relocated to Texas from California with his family in 2020.

Credit : James Van Der Beek/Instagram

James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly created a peaceful life together in Texas with their kids.

The Dawson’s Creek alum — who died at the age of 48 on Feb. 11 after a journey with stage 3 colorectal cancer — relocated to Austin in 2020 with his wife of fifteen years and their six kids: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.

James and Kimberly made the decision to permanently leave Beverly Hills with their family, announcing on social media at the time that they were excited to “embark on a new adventure in Texas.”

One year later, the couple pulled back the curtain on their life at their Texas ranch in a July 2021 cover story for Austin Life magazine, with James noting that their new home in the Lone Star State was “incredible.”

James Van Der Beek with his family.James Van Der Beek/Instagram

At the time, James emphasized that their Austin ranch was “amazing” for their family, while Kimberly noted how it was important for them to be surrounded by nature.

“I’m a farm girl at heart who had never lived out her dream. Nature was calling. I wanted to be immersed in nature, in trees and fields and the sky,” she said at the time. “We found this property and it’s been like a dream come true.”

The couple also shared how they felt a big sense of community in their new home base — something they were thrilled for their kids to experience.

“I do really feel looked out for,” James said. “And to be able to show that to our kids and how we help out and become part of that process, in addition to giving them room to run and ride, it’s been amazing.”

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE in a November 2022 feature, James said living in Texas has been a “centering” experience for him and his family.

“I know for me, it’s been really centering and I feel like for the kids, it’s been grounding, and a different kind of education that we never could have offered them in a classroom,” he told PEOPLE at the time.

He noted that the change in scenery really helped their family slow down and connect with both nature and each other.

“Just the things that we’re all aware of, like what phase the moon is in because we come out, we look at it,” he continued. “I feel like we have a relationship with these natural cycles that are happening.”

Of his children, he noted at the time, “They jump around. They sing, ‘rain, rain come today,’ and they run out in it, because we need it.” He added, “It’s just connected us, not just to nature, but to the natural life cycles all around us.”

In December 2025, James did his final interview from his Texas ranch with Today’s Craig Melvin, in which he opened up about his health and the impact his colorectal cancer diagnosis had on his life.

During the interview, he gushed about his wife Kimberly and how she really “stepped up” during his journey.

“I would not be alive if it weren’t for my wife,” he said in December. “She just has stepped up as a caretaker, as a nurse, as head of the household.”

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, Kimberly announced the news of her husband’s death in a heartfelt Instagram post.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote. “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. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”