James Van Der Beek has discussed his decision to relocate to Texas with his family following the passing of his mother Melinda Weber and his wife Kimberly’s five miscarriages.
The actor, 44 – who is known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek – lost his mother in July 2020 while his partner, 44, lost five pregnancies, including two late-term.
And the couple, who share five children, sat down with Hello! magazine to reflect on their life-changing losses and their move from Los Angeles to Austin.
Candid: James Van Der Beek has discussed his decision to relocate to Texas with his family following the passing of his mother Melinda Weber and his wife Kimberly’s five miscarriages
‘We wanted to give the children space and we wanted them to live in nature’ said the actor. ‘It’s a magical place. There’s an energy [in Austin] that transcends any one religion or ideology.’
James added that Texas appealed to him because it is ‘different’ and a ‘hands-on way of life’ which he has been craving.
The 44-year-old and Kimberly tied the knot during an intimate ceremony in Israel in 2010, but the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary last August.
Instead, they decided to take a trip to Austin as James’ business consultant wife remembered feeling the positive ‘energy’ upon their arrival.
Tragedy: The actor, 44 – who is known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery – lost his mother (pictured) in July 2020 while his partner, 44, lost five pregnancies, including two late-term
Family man: ‘We wanted to give the children space and we wanted them to live in nature’ said the actor, who has five children with his partner
According to Kimberly, they went for a drive and meditated under a tree during their anniversary visit, to decide whether they should move.
She felt they needed a change of scenery after what they had endured, as she needed to be ‘immersed’ in nature to ‘heal’.
Kimberly commented: ‘We had just been through a crazy year; with two late-term miscarriages, my body was still healing and it was hard for me to walk around at that point.’
The business consultant confirmed she had only been out of hospital for a few months when they left for Austin, and was feeling exhausted.
![Positive: He added: 'It's a magical place. There's an energy [in Austin] that transcends any one religion or ideology' before adding that Texas appealed to him because it is 'different way of life'](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.newsgroove.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1631026716_599_James-Van-Der-Beek-details-his-decision-to-move-to.jpg?media=1711065099)
Positive: He added: ‘It’s a magical place. There’s an energy [in Austin] that transcends any one religion or ideology’ before adding that Texas appealed to him because it is ‘different way of life’
Recovery: Kimberly said she felt they needed a change of scenery after what they had endured, as she needed to be ‘immersed’ in nature to ‘heal’
Kimberly previously revealed that she thought she was going to die after suffering two miscarriages in seven months.
She admitted her baby losses in November 2019 and June 2020 were ‘incredibly difficult’ to cope with and left her so ill, she was not sure she would make it through.
‘I’ve had, actually, five miscarriages total, but the last two were significant in that they hospitalised me. Those were incredibly difficult, emotionally and physically,’ she told Entertainment Tonight.
‘I just felt like I was going to pass. I didn’t know that I was going to live through it. It became pretty dark,’ Kimberly continued.
‘I just have faint glimpses of what happened with James, because I kept losing consciousness. He was there giving me comfort, and love, yeah, just a rock.’
Loss: Kimberly previously revealed that she thought she was going to die after suffering two miscarriages in seven months and she said they were ‘incredibly difficult’ to cope with
As she continues to heal from her multiples losses, Kimberly expressed gratitude for her family and described what is it like raising her fifth child.
The couple share Olivia, 10, Joshua, nine, Annabel, seven, Emelia, five, and Gwendolyn, three.
James revealed he always wanted a big family and in fact told Kimberly during one of their very first conversations
‘You did say when you first wrapped your arms around me that you felt all the babies we were going to have together, I just didn’t know how many babies that meant!’ the mother-of-five quipped.
Home is where the heart is: The couple share Olivia, 10, Joshua, nine, Annabel, seven, Emelia, five, and Gwendolyn, three
