James Van Der Beek's $2.6M fundraiser faces backlash after ranch buy

A GoFundMe campaign for the family of James Van Der Beek has raised over $2.6 million but faces backlash following revelations that the actor purchased a $4.76 million ranch shortly before his death.The 48-year-old James Van Der Beek, known for the television series “Dawson’s Creek”, passed away on February 11, 2026, after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer for three years.Mehcad Brooks defended the estate by explaining that friends secured the property through a trust to help the widow and six children avoid displacement despite high medical costs.