Alfonso Ribeiro and his wife Angela Ribeiro received a thoughtful gesture from their three kids in the wake of their close friend James Van Der Beek's death.
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Van Der Beek died from colorectal cancer last Wednesday at age 48.
On Monday Angela, 45, took to Instagram to share a photo of a cake their kids baked 'to lift our spirits.'
The couple, who married in 2012, share sons Alfonso 'AJ' Lincoln, 12, Anders Reyn, 10, and daughter Ava Sue, six. Alfonso, 54, is also dad to daughter Sienna, 23, from a previous marriage.
Uploading a photo of the homemade cake via Instagram Stories, the mom of three wrote: 'Not the easiest week…but our kids made us this beautiful cake to lift our spirits today. Kids just know.'
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It comes after the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star paid tribute to his late friend on social media last week.
Alfonso Ribeiro and his wife Angela Ribeiro received a thoughtful gesture from their three kids in the wake of their close friend James Van Der Beek's death; pictured in January 2024
Van Der Beek died from colorectal cancer last Wednesday at age 48. Following his death, Alfonso shared an intimate photo taken on the late star's death bed
He posted photos taken from his last visit to Van Der Beek at his family ranch in Texas.
Ribeiro shared that he was able to spend time with the late star shortly before he passed.
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'I’m so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today. He was my true friend, brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer.
'His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride - the highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back,' he wrote in a caption.
Ribeiro is godfather to Van Der Beek's daughter Gwendolyn.
He wrote: 'I’ve learned so much from James. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family.
'He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life.
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'I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.'
On Monday Angela, 45, took to Instagram to share a photo of a cake their kids baked 'to lift our spirits.' The couple share sons Alfonso 'AJ' Lincoln, 12, Anders Reyn, 10, and daughter Ava Sue, six
Alfonso and Angela seen with their sons in June 2017
Angela also used the social media platform to issue her own heartfelt statement amid Van Der Beek's passing
Angela also used the social media platform to issue her own heartfelt statement amid Van Der Beek's passing.
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She shared an outdoor photo of them bundled up in winter jackets and hats with a dog nestled at her feet.
'My brother from another… I’m going to miss our talks, our enlightening and humorous text chats, our ski adventures, but most of all your presence and the way you made everyone feel truly seen,' she wrote mournfully.
'Your words of wisdom and your beautiful insight changed me in ways that upgraded my whole being. I’ll miss your voice notes that always began with “hello, soul sister”… and even the way you teased me, from cutting pizza with scissors to my “peculiar” humming on the ski slopes before first tracks, to my secret fascination with Korean TV. Thank you for every laugh, every lesson, every moment of light you shared so freely. You have enlightened me in ways I can’t fully explain.'
She echoed her husband's sentiments, adding, 'I’m so grateful we were able to be there in your final days and tell you just how deeply you were loved and how much you mean to us.'
Friends of the Van Der Beek family have a GoFundMe account that is nearing $3million.
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