James Van Der Beek's Daughter Emilia Shares Brave Message on His Birthday
Emilia Van Der Beek, the nine-year-old daughter of late actor James Van Der Beek, has shared a courageous and emotional message following the loss of her father, revealing that she still talks to him every day. The Dawson's Creek star passed away at the age of 48 after being diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer, leaving behind his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.
Emotional Tribute on Instagram
On Monday, Emilia posted a heartfelt video on her mother's Instagram account to remember her dad on what would have been his 49th birthday. In the video, she offered poignant advice on how to cope with grief, nearly one month after saying goodbye to her father. "So today is my dad's birthday and the number one thing for somebody's passing is to talk to them, and let your emotions out," Emilia said. She emphasized the importance of expressing feelings, stating, "If you miss them, you can cry and you can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day."
Coping with Loss and Finding Comfort
Emilia described her daily routine of connecting with her father, saying, "I start with a sentence and I say, 'Hi dad, I miss you and I love you so much and will never stop loving you'. I just tell him about my day, how I'm feeling." She reassured others that it's okay to feel sad and cry, adding, "You have to feel them in your heart; they're watching over you. They're a part of your body and in a good place." She also found solace in knowing her dad was no longer in pain and encouraged people to handle their emotions in their own way, noting, "You can be angry but don't blame yourself. Everyone has different emotions in their body and they express it in different ways. This is hard, it's going to be hard."
Personal Memories and Legacy
Before his passing, James Van Der Beek told Emilia to "still believe in miracles," a message she holds dear. She shared some personal ways she keeps her dad close, such as wearing his hat, which she said smells like him. James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame with his lead role in Dawson's Creek, died on February 11, with his family confirming he "passed peacefully" on social media. In the video, Emilia also expressed gratitude for the support received through a GoFundMe campaign created by friends, which has raised over $2.7 million for the family.
