James Van Der Beek’s brother speaks with sorrow.
A few days after the Dawson Creek star has died at age 48 after a nearly three-year battle with colorectal cancer, Jared Van Der Beek shared a moving tribute on Instagram, discussing the pain of losing his “person.”
“There is a special bond between brothers and two days ago that physical bond was broken,” Jared wrote alongside a carousel of photos, including a sweet image of James supporting him at his college graduation. “I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a feeling of devastation and pain that is so deep in the heart that I didn’t know it would hurt so much.”
He described his older brother as a constant source of guidance and strength. “He was my person, the one I went to for anything and everything. I looked up to him since I was born. He never failed to be there for me whenever I needed him.”
Amid the heartbreak, Jared said he found comfort in seeing how much James was loved. “He shared with an open heart and with his wise soul,” he wrote, adding, “healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers and support.”
He ended with a message directly to James: “I already miss your physical being and your words of wisdom on the phone… Thank you for living your life with me. I love you.”
