In an emotional moment on the November 18 episode of Dancing With the Stars, James Van Der Beek shared a deeply personal and heartbreaking story with millions of viewers. The beloved actor revealed that his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, experienced a devastating miscarriage involving the couple's sixth child. This news struck a chord with fans, offering a raw glimpse into the couple's resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
Sharing the Pain: James Opens Up About the Loss
Standing on the stage of Dancing With the Stars, James, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, paused to share a deeply personal moment with the audience. “My wife Kimberly went through every expectant parent’s worst nightmare,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “We lost the baby. The little soul that we had expected to welcome into our family took a shortcut to whatever lies beyond. You never know why these things happen, and that’s what I’ve been telling my kids.”
James, who is 42, shared the pain of losing a child, a topic that is often difficult to discuss openly. He explained that the couple had been preparing for the arrival of their sixth child, only to face this unexpected and heart-wrenching turn of events.
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View this post on InstagramTook 4 out of 5 kids to #UniversalStudiosHollywood on my day off. If this is the only pic I get before December with all eyes looking at the lens… I might just have to hope people don’t notice a dinosaur is standing in for our youngest and make it work as our Christmas card. 👍🏻#TakeYourVictoriesWhereYouCanGetEm @unistudios
Why Did James Decide to Continue Competing?
Despite the overwhelming grief, James admitted that he almost stepped away from the competition. But Kimberly, who is 37, encouraged him to keep going. “Kimberly, from her hospital bed, said to me, ‘I am not done watching you dance,’” James revealed, his voice cracking with emotion. “Kimberly, I love you.”
In a touching moment, James explained why dancing was more important than ever. “When words fail, you sing. When there are no words, you dance. Kimberly, I’m dancing for you, I’m dancing for us,” he said, his commitment to his wife evident in every word.
This decision to continue competing on Dancing With the Stars highlights the couple's strength and determination, even in the face of such profound loss.
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Revisiting the Announcement of Baby No. 6
Just over a month ago, the couple announced they were expecting their sixth child during the October 7 episode of DWTS. This news was met with joy, as the couple had previously suffered three miscarriages. Now, parents to Olivia, 9, Joshua, 7, Annabel, 5, Emilia, 3, and Gwendolyn, 16 months, James and Kimberly were eager to expand their family once more.
The announcement brought hope to fans, who were excited to see the couple's growing family. However, this tragic turn of events has left both James and Kimberly heartbroken, yet grateful for the support they’ve received from family, friends, and fans.
View this post on InstagramWrecked. Devastated. In shock. That’s how we’re feeling right now after the soul we thought were going to welcome into our family in April… has taken a short cut to whatever lies beyond this life. We’ve been through this before, but never this late in the pregnancy, and never accompanied by such a scary, horrific threat to @vanderkimberly and her well-being. Grateful that she’s now recovering, but we’ve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one. Thank you to all of our friends and co-workers (and dance partners) who have shown up for us so beautifully during this time. As many of you have said, “There are no words…” and it’s true. Which is why in a time like this it’s enough to know that you’re there. Grieving AND counting our blessings today.
James' Heartfelt Instagram Post
In a candid Instagram post, James shared a photo of Kimberly and one of their children, expressing the depth of their pain. “Wrecked. Devastated. In shock,” he wrote. “We’ve been through this before, but never this late in the pregnancy, and never accompanied by such a scary, horrific threat to @vanderkimberly and her well-being. Grateful that she’s now recovering, but we’ve only just begun unpacking the layers of this one.”
James went on to thank their friends, co-workers, and dance partners for their unwavering support during this difficult time. “As many of you have said, ‘There are no words…’ and it’s true. Which is why in a time like this it’s enough to know that you’re there. Grieving AND counting our blessings today,” he concluded, offering a glimpse into the couple’s resilience and gratitude.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to James, Kimberly, and the entire Van Der Beek family during this challenging time.
