Kimberly Brook was a constant source of support for her husband, actor James Van Der Beek, throughout his cancer battle and the couple’s life together. Van Der Beek, best known for Dawson’s Creek, died on February 11, 2026, at age 48, leaving behind Brook and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Brook and Van Der Beek were candid about the painful miscarriages they experienced before building their family. The couple publicly shared that they had gone through several devastating early pregnancy losses, including a moment revealed on Dancing With the Stars, when Van Der Beek told the audience that Brook had suffered “every expectant parent’s worst nightmare” and they had lost a baby. Their openness was intended to reduce the stigma around miscarriage and encourage others to seek support rather than suffer in silence.
The pair married on August 1, 2010, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their first child, Olivia, was born the following month in September 2010. Van Der Beek had previously been married to actress Heather McComb.
Beyond her role as a wife and mother, Brook has built her own professional identity. She is credited as an associate producer on the 2010 documentary Teenage Paparazzo and also works as a business consultant. In addition to her behind-the-scenes work, she has appeared socially connected within Hollywood circles, including a 2019 slumber party with friends such as Odette Annable, Jenna Dewan and Stacy Keibler.
Brook also co-hosts the podcast Bathroom Chronicles, which launched in 2023. The show has featured guests including Rumer Willis and Genevieve Padalecki, expanding her presence in entertainment and media conversations.
Together, Brook and Van Der Beek created a family-centered life that remained a major part of the actor’s public image. Through parenthood, pregnancy losses and his health struggles, Brook was seen as a steady presence in his life. Their story reflects both the private challenges and public openness that defined much of their marriage, as well as Brook’s own work, friendships and media projects outside of being known as Van Der Beek’s wife.
