Who Is James Van Der Beek's Wife? All About Kimberly Van Der Beek

Mar. 15, 2025

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek attend the Los Angeles Special Screening of “SKIN” on July 11, 2019 in Hollywood, California.Photo:Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

James Van Der Beekand his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek (née Brook), have been committed to each other for over a decade.

Since saying “I do,” James and Kimberly have welcomed six children together: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.

With each addition to their family, the father-of-six has said their love has grown. “We have watched our lives change with each kid,” James told PEOPLE in 2019.

The couple have also supported each other through hard times as well. In November 2024, James announced that he had beendiagnosed with colorectal cancer. “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the actor told PEOPLE.

So who is James Van Der Beek’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Kimberly Van Der Beek and her relationship with the actor.

She has worked as a producer

Kimberly Van Der Beek and James Van Der Beek attend the Fox, FX And Hulu 2019 Golden Globe Awards after party on January 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.Phillip Faraone/Getty

Phillip Faraone/Getty

Kimberly has a credit as an associate producer on theAdrian Grenier-directed documentaryTeenage Paparazzo,which premiered atSundance Film Festivalin 2010.

The documentary explores the relationship between theEntouragestar and a 14-year-old photographer named Austin Visschedyk.

She met James in Israel

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek during their engagement.James Van Der Beek Instagram

James Van Der Beek Instagram

James and Kimberly met in Israel in 2009, shortly after his first marriage ended.

While “on a trip with an organized group,” James realized that he was “done being single” and “wanted a real relationship. A soul mate. Someone with whom I could build a family,” he reflected onInstagramin honor of their 10th wedding anniversary.

James continued that he was looking for someone to build a family with, and while telling his friend about his “revelation,” Kimberly interrupted them to ask his friend a question.

Though he was caught off guard after his personal moment was cut off, she made a big impression on him.

She and James married in 2010

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek on their wedding day in 2010.James Van Der Beek Instagram

The couple said “I do” on Aug. 1, 2010, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

James announced their nuptials on X (formerly Twitter). “The woman I love did me the honor of became my wife today,” he wrote in the since-deleted post. “I look forward to earning her for the rest of my life.”

At the time, the newly married pair didn’t reveal many details of the wedding, but in honor of their 13th anniversary, James reflected on their special day.

He wrote onInstagramthat Kimberly had a dream of a man who would officiate their wedding on a specific date. As luck would have it, he was available that night to marry them “in the basement of the Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv.”

She is a mother of six

James Van Der Beek with his wife, Kimberly, and their kids.James Van Der Beek Instagram

TheDawson’s Creekstar and his wife Kimberly are the proud parents of six children together, which James says isa “humbling” experience.

“When you think you’ve got it down, you get one that throws a curveball at you,” he told PEOPLE in 2023. “And it’s regulating our own emotions when things do get hectic and chaos ensues, which is inevitable at times.”

Their first child, daughterOlivia, was born on Sept. 25, 2010, in Los Angeles. Their family expanded when son Joshua was welcomed on March 13, 2012, and their daughterAnnabel Leahwas next to arrive on Jan. 25, 2014.

James Van Der Beek with his daughters and sons.Kimberly Van Der Beek Instagram

After thinking they were “done” having children,Jeremiahwas born on Oct. 10, 2021, at the family’s ranch in Texas.

After doing “many variations” of teaching their kids, including traditional homeschooling, a homeschooling co-op and hiring teachers, Kimberly opened up on a 2020 episode ofThe Make Downpodcast about her plans for their schooling.

“We’re in a real interesting time right now where we can move into education differently with a different approach,” she shared, adding that the Finnish school system was a source of inspiration for her. “As long as we’re learningreading, writing, math, a kid can venture out where their passions are.”

She has been open about pregnancy losses

James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek take a selfie with one of their children.James Van Der Beek Instagram

James and Kimberly have candidly discussed their five miscarriages, including two back-to-back pregnancy losses.

“It’s so hard, butit’s important to talk about,” Kimberly told PEOPLE in 2019. “We wait so long to tell people that we are pregnant so the possibility of miscarriage has decreased. But in the meantime, you’re tired, you need help and you’re going through one of the wildest times of your life.”

In 2021, the couple partnered with the American Red Cross to spread the word about how crucial blood donations are. Kimberly shared that without blood transfusions, she “probably would not be here.”

She co-hosts a podcast

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek attend the premiere of HBO’s “Room 104” on July 27, 2017 in Hollywood, California.Phillip Faraone/WireImage

Phillip Faraone/WireImage

Along with Peggy Rometo, Kimberly is the co-host of theBathroom Chroniclespodcast, which launched in January 2023. Past guests have includedJamie-Lynn Sigler,Rumer WillisandGenevieve Padalecki.

James, who has also been a guest on the show, couldn’t be prouder of his wife and her accomplishments.

“It’s been really inspirational for me to watch her get back into something that she loves, and to create a safe space for people to share honestly, openly — to laugh, to cry and know that they’re not alone in the world,” he shared with PEOPLE in 2023.

The actor added, “I’m just so proud of her and the space that she’s creating, for her to dip into friendship and sisterhood and honesty and curiosity in the way that she does.”

She and James relocated to Texas in 2020

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek.James Van Der Beek Instagram

In the fall of 2020, James and Kimberly announced that their family was moving from L.A. to Texas.

“Sometimesa fuller lifebegins with an empty house,” James wroteon Instagram. “Leaving Los Angeles incredibly grateful for all the friends and memories we’ve made here. Onto the next big adventure! ❤️😊.”

TheCSI: Cyberstar revealed in anInstagramcaption that apart from their pregnancy losses, there were other contributing factors in their decision to move, including a health scare for Kimberly, himbeing eliminatedfromDancing with the Stars, theloss of his momand the COVID-19 pandemic.

source: people.com