James Van Der Beek Mourns the Death of His Mom with Moving Tribute

James Van Der Beek took to Instagram on Monday (July 13) to announce that his mother Melinda sadly passed away last week at the age of 70.

The 43-year-old actor was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars last year and was very open about his mother’s influence on his love of dance.

“My mom crossed over last week. Even though we knew this was coming – and had actually thought we were at the end nearly a year and a half ago – I’m still in shock,” James wrote in his moving tribute. “I’m grateful she’s no longer in pain, I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m relieved… all at once and in different moments. Just trying to hold space and allow for it all.”

James continued, “To thousands of kids, she was ‘Miss Melinda,’ a gymnastics teacher with a big heart, a creative spirit and a mantra: ‘There’s no such word as can’t!’ To my kids, she was Grammy M… a magical grandma with a big laugh and a basement full of costumes and Christmas lights. And to me… she was my mom.”

“She gave me life. She taught me how to tumble. Drove me to my first auditions. She believed in me based on nothing but her own intuition and she passed on a craziness that has been crucial to not just my success, but my own personal happiness,” James wrote. “I don’t know what the grieving/healing process looks or feels like from here on out… all I know is anytime my kids – or any of her students – want to dress up, or get on a stage, or dance, or even just think of her… they’ll have a little extra love from the other side backing them up.”

James also shared a slideshow of personal family photos, which you can view below.

Just last month, James and his family suffered another tragic loss.