James Van Der Beek’s Final Moments With Alfonso Ribeiro Shared
In the quiet hours before the curtain fell, Alfonso Ribeiro shared a deeply personal goodbye with longtime friend James Van Der Beek, offering fans a glimpse into a moment that felt both intimate and unbearably tender.
Ribeiro revealed that he was by Van Der Beek’s side shortly before his passing on February 11, 2026, after the actor’s battle with colorectal cancer. In a heartfelt post, he shared a photo of their final interaction, writing that it was taken “just a few minutes” before he said his last goodbye and that his final act was making his friend laugh one last time.
Godfather of Van Der Beek’s Kid
The two weren’t just industry peers. Their bond ran deep into family life, with Ribeiro serving as godfather to one of Van Der Beek’s children, making the farewell feel less like a Hollywood headline and more like a private chapter closing.
Van Der Beek, best known for anchoring a generation’s coming-of-age TV memories, died at age 48 after a cancer diagnosis that he had been managing privately for years before making it public.
