Kimberly Van Der Beek is embracing AI to recreate memories of her late husband, James Van Der Beek.
“Felt like a solid use of AI today,” Kimberly, 44, wrote over a Tuesday, September 8, Instagram Story that compiled five AI-generated photos of herself and the former Dawson’s Creek star, who died in February at age 48 from complications related to colorectal cancer.
“If James and I were doing our thing in the 80s,” she wrote beneath the image compilation, which imagined the couple dressed in various ensembles that included double denim, loose-fitting white shirts, chunky belts and cowboy hats. “Typing into ChatGPT what would I have looked like in the 80s,” Kimberly wrote in another corner of the photo collage.
The post comes a little over one month after Kimberly took to social media to mark what would have been her and James’ 16th wedding anniversary. “16 years ago I was the luckiest woman in the world to marry @vanderjames,” she captioned her Instagram tribute on August 1. “The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold everyday with all these incredible children we have. He continues to be present and guide us. I’m eternally grateful.”
Kimberly and James shared six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, and Gwendolyn, 8, and sons Joshua, 14, and Jeremiah, 4. James is survived by Kimberly and their children.
The widow has regularly honored her late husband since his death, often through Instagram Stories that reflect on the love they shared. On June 28, Kimberly wrote, “Baby, love does not die. Death does not part” atop throwback photos of the duo.
She also keeps his family bonds with their children alive through the sharing of family photos, some of which she shared in her June 28 post amid detailing how James “was always building something with a child in tow.”
Kimberly confirmed her husband’s death via a statement shared via social media on February 11. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” she wrote at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
The news drew an outpouring of support from loved ones and fans, who raised more than $2.9 million of an originally targeted $1.5 million through a GoFundMe initiative that strived to help Kimberly and her children make ends meet in James’ absence.
