James Van der beek died! 48 yo :(

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

You’ve missed the point.

The widow didn’t need any money because her husband was sitting on millions in investments and then was heavily insured on top of it.

^^^
That’s the point: the GFM was an unnecessary money grab for someone who didn’t need a dime…and apparently the Vanderbeek widow doesn’t really need average Joe’s to crowd-fund her family’s lifestyle either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They bought the $4.7M farm within the last month (they’d previously been renting it). Why are they asking us regular folk for money again?

Is that really true? That's actually kind of infuriating to be asking for donations if that's true. Ugh.

DP That's what is being reported on TMZ
https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/13/james-van-der-beek-purchased-texas-ranch-before-dying/

The ranch is a massive 36 acres with a 5,149-square-foot main house that features 5 bedrooms and three bathrooms. There's also cabins and a pool on the ranch, plus sweeping views of the Pedernales River.

Ffs. People dumb enough to donate, whatever.

Until he got sick, why wasn't he churning out Hallmark Channel movies? He would have made bank and his widow wouldn't have needed to grift. As it was, he barely worked for 20 years and she didn't work at all. And now people are paying her millions to live a lavish lifestyle? Okay.

Exactly. There’s no reason why he and his wife couldn’t get normal jobs and live in a normal sized house like the majority of the US. He had a better start than most people.

Get a normal job……like you? Is that what’s bothering you so much?

NP: do you think it is wise planning to have no income and no plan for income with 6 kids and an unemployed spouse?

Well, he wasn’t educated and probably didn’t have a normal upbringing.

But yes, most adults should realize that it’s wise to live below your means while socking away money in case life throws you a curveball.

If someone offered me $4M for a house, I’d probably tap $1M and invest the rest.

And as someone with a stressful white collar job with relentless hours, I’m fairly annoyed when a family launches a Go Fund Me or begs more stable relatives for money when the sole provider dies AND the SAHM wants to continue being a SAHM. It’s one thing to ask for help to cover a transition back to the workforce; it’s quite another story when the person never envisions working (ever).

I know women who simply got divorced and had the same expectation of never working. I’m still baffled by women in their 50s and 60s who tell people they are SAHMs…when their kids launched many, many years ago.

It’s obviously sad, but he knew he was sick for a while. If Tori Spelling can downsize to a small place with her brood, then surely anyone can.

And where are the grandparents?

Define normal upbringing. James' father was an executive in the telephone industry, and mom was a dancer and gymnastic teacher. He graduated from Cheshire Academy a college prep private school in Connecticut. The current tuition, room and board is over $69. His alma mater is Drew University, a small Methodist affiliated university. I would not say he was uneducated.

My spouse and my kid both graduated from Drew so I know that Van Der Beek did not - he left when he got the Dawson’s Creek job and never went back. They were all unknown teens so they got sh!tty contracts, the show didn’t last more than five seasons so they didn’t have the opportunity to sign new more lucrative contracts, and apparently they have never received residuals from that show. In a just world Sony Pictures Studios would have covered the costs of his treatment as a thank you for making them the tens of millions the show has made and no one would be in this predicament. I never watched the show but have always thought JVDB seemed like a decent guy (some Drew bias here admittedly) but it seems they made some really poor choices along the way and the GFM is really tacky (as are almost all GFMs IMO.)

He had plenty of negotiating power for his leading role in Friday night lights I’m sure. He was a heart throb in the late 90s/ early 2000s. And as many people pointed out he came from a UMC household in Connecticut and went to a private prep school for high school. He was not without education , family, or opportunity. I have much more sympathy for the young athletes who make a few million right out of college and become broke within 5 years due to greedy family members and zero financial literacy or education (thanks, NCAA football culture). Or for young actors like Selena Gomez or Britney Spears who came from nothing and were exploited as minors.

Pretty sure he was not in Friday Night Lights.

You’re totally right I meant varsity blues! Sorry

Apparently he didn’t make much money off of that contract either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They bought the $4.7M farm within the last month (they’d previously been renting it). Why are they asking us regular folk for money again?

Is that really true? That's actually kind of infuriating to be asking for donations if that's true. Ugh.

DP That's what is being reported on TMZ
https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/13/james-van-der-beek-purchased-texas-ranch-before-dying/

The ranch is a massive 36 acres with a 5,149-square-foot main house that features 5 bedrooms and three bathrooms. There's also cabins and a pool on the ranch, plus sweeping views of the Pedernales River.

Ffs. People dumb enough to donate, whatever.

Until he got sick, why wasn't he churning out Hallmark Channel movies? He would have made bank and his widow wouldn't have needed to grift. As it was, he barely worked for 20 years and she didn't work at all. And now people are paying her millions to live a lavish lifestyle? Okay.

Exactly. There’s no reason why he and his wife couldn’t get normal jobs and live in a normal sized house like the majority of the US. He had a better start than most people.

Get a normal job……like you? Is that what’s bothering you so much?

NP: do you think it is wise planning to have no income and no plan for income with 6 kids and an unemployed spouse?

Well, he wasn’t educated and probably didn’t have a normal upbringing.

But yes, most adults should realize that it’s wise to live below your means while socking away money in case life throws you a curveball.

If someone offered me $4M for a house, I’d probably tap $1M and invest the rest.

And as someone with a stressful white collar job with relentless hours, I’m fairly annoyed when a family launches a Go Fund Me or begs more stable relatives for money when the sole provider dies AND the SAHM wants to continue being a SAHM. It’s one thing to ask for help to cover a transition back to the workforce; it’s quite another story when the person never envisions working (ever).

I know women who simply got divorced and had the same expectation of never working. I’m still baffled by women in their 50s and 60s who tell people they are SAHMs…when their kids launched many, many years ago.

It’s obviously sad, but he knew he was sick for a while. If Tori Spelling can downsize to a small place with her brood, then surely anyone can.

And where are the grandparents?

Define normal upbringing. James' father was an executive in the telephone industry, and mom was a dancer and gymnastic teacher. He graduated from Cheshire Academy a college prep private school in Connecticut. The current tuition, room and board is over $69. His alma mater is Drew University, a small Methodist affiliated university. I would not say he was uneducated.

My spouse and my kid both graduated from Drew so I know that Van Der Beek did not - he left when he got the Dawson’s Creek job and never went back. They were all unknown teens so they got sh!tty contracts, the show didn’t last more than five seasons so they didn’t have the opportunity to sign new more lucrative contracts, and apparently they have never received residuals from that show. In a just world Sony Pictures Studios would have covered the costs of his treatment as a thank you for making them the tens of millions the show has made and no one would be in this predicament. I never watched the show but have always thought JVDB seemed like a decent guy (some Drew bias here admittedly) but it seems they made some really poor choices along the way and the GFM is really tacky (as are almost all GFMs IMO.)

He had plenty of negotiating power for his leading role in Friday night lights I’m sure. He was a heart throb in the late 90s/ early 2000s. And as many people pointed out he came from a UMC household in Connecticut and went to a private prep school for high school. He was not without education , family, or opportunity. I have much more sympathy for the young athletes who make a few million right out of college and become broke within 5 years due to greedy family members and zero financial literacy or education (thanks, NCAA football culture). Or for young actors like Selena Gomez or Britney Spears who came from nothing and were exploited as minors.

Pretty sure he was not in Friday Night Lights.

You’re totally right I meant varsity blues! Sorry

Apparently he didn’t make much money off of that contract either.

+1 That movie’s entire budget was $16M. Salary details aren’t public but I’d be surprised if he made more than $2M of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

You’ve missed the point.

The widow didn’t need any money because her husband was sitting on millions in investments and then was heavily insured on top of it.

^^^
That’s the point: the GFM was an unnecessary money grab for someone who didn’t need a dime…and apparently the Vanderbeek widow doesn’t really need average Joe’s to crowd-fund her family’s lifestyle either.

No, the point is that $500 was a lot to you and you needed it more than the widow. Don’t donate more than you can comfortably afford. A lot of people donated $10 to the Van Der Beeks. That’s like one Starbucks drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

You’ve missed the point.

The widow didn’t need any money because her husband was sitting on millions in investments and then was heavily insured on top of it.

^^^
That’s the point: the GFM was an unnecessary money grab for someone who didn’t need a dime…and apparently the Vanderbeek widow doesn’t really need average Joe’s to crowd-fund her family’s lifestyle either.

No, the point is that $500 was a lot to you and you needed it more than the widow. Don’t donate more than you can comfortably afford. A lot of people donated $10 to the Van Der Beeks. That’s like one Starbucks drink.

If you don’t understand why it’s crass to ask people to give you money when you really aren’t in crisis and don’t actually need it, then there’s no need to debate. You just don’t get it.

The Van Der Beek GFM is north of $2.6M. The family has a home worth more than $4M. And presumably his parents and her parents have assets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

You’ve missed the point.

The widow didn’t need any money because her husband was sitting on millions in investments and then was heavily insured on top of it.

^^^
That’s the point: the GFM was an unnecessary money grab for someone who didn’t need a dime…and apparently the Vanderbeek widow doesn’t really need average Joe’s to crowd-fund her family’s lifestyle either.

No, the point is that $500 was a lot to you and you needed it more than the widow. Don’t donate more than you can comfortably afford. A lot of people donated $10 to the Van Der Beeks. That’s like one Starbucks drink.

And the other point is that is it greedy to ask for money through a Go Fund Me if you are better off than most of the people you sent the info to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s sad that people feel the need to comment continually on the go fund me after his death. If you don’t want to donate you don’t have to. You aren’t going to change anyone’s mind with your constant rants over it either. Get a life!

I see this type of response a lot on social media over this. Its not so much about the van der beeks, its more about a ridiculous donation culture that needs to be called out where people are using gofundme as a way to take financial short cuts, taking advantage of people in the process.

Its just like calling out that the absurdity that tipping culture has become. If we stay silent the problem becomes more widespread.

Get real. If your spouse has to die very young to “cut a financial shortcut” that sounds like a pretty shit deal. You should be so lucky, right? I’d rather have decades to work and save than have one of our lives cut short. You lack perspective on this.

DP, but I have a real world example that highlights how people feel when they are asked to donate and then find out there was never a real financial need.

Someone I know IRL lost her husband unexpectedly in his late 40s/early 50s. A GoFundMe was launched by the woman’s sister to cover funeral expenses, housing costs, and college savings. They quickly pulled in over $250k+. (Well north of that actually.)

And then a few months later everyone found out he was heavily insured and already had tons of money invested, etc. They moved into a nicer home, kids were already in private school, etc. A relative with more intimate knowledge said the money wasn’t needed; just a money grab.

As someone who had no idea, I contributed $500—like most of our friends (some gave more). We worried she would struggle to pay bills. Long story short: she’s financially better off than literally everyone who contributed to the GFM. And that’s not cool.

\$250K isn’t retire and live off the interest for life money. It’s like 1 years salary for people. If you can’t afford to donate, then don’t.

You’ve missed the point.

The widow didn’t need any money because her husband was sitting on millions in investments and then was heavily insured on top of it.

^^^
That’s the point: the GFM was an unnecessary money grab for someone who didn’t need a dime…and apparently the Vanderbeek widow doesn’t really need average Joe’s to crowd-fund her family’s lifestyle either.

No, the point is that $500 was a lot to you and you needed it more than the widow. Don’t donate more than you can comfortably afford. A lot of people donated $10 to the Van Der Beeks. That’s like one Starbucks drink.

If you don’t understand why it’s crass to ask people to give you money when you really aren’t in crisis and don’t actually need it, then there’s no need to debate. You just don’t get it.

The Van Der Beek GFM is north of $2.6M. The family has a home worth more than $4M. And presumably his parents and her parents have assets.

Don’t forget their second home that’s also worth I think a couple million

[Anonymous]

I feel like unless you are in absolute crisis, Go Fund Me is incredibly tacky. It’s just dressed up begging. There are situations that warrant begging—giant medical bills and no income, loved one died and no money for funeral expenses, house burned down and no insurance. The existence of cancer does not necessarily mean someone needs money. I do think people assume it does.

[Anonymous]

Did the wife really set up the GGM? Could it be a complete scam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the wife really set up the GGM? Could it be a complete scam?

I’ve read on Reddit and elsewhere that the wife initially set it up and it was changed to “set up by friends” shortly afterwards, but no way to verify of course.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t he have insurance to pay his medical bills?

[Anonymous]

Begging before his body is even cold is really just low.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry he died but yes, I agree they are in a privileged position, they can sell their substantial property if needed, and the fact that they are taking money from people living paycheck-to-paycheck is beyond horrible. They can ask Spielberg for money through private channels.

[Anonymous]

It’s unfortunate that all of their bad financial decisions are so public. I guess it’s supposed to be romantic and touching that his final act was to literally buy the farm, but all I see is a property they can’t afford and the burden of trying to sell it when they inevitably have to downsize. Hopefully KVDB invests her GFM windfall wisely.