Actor James Van Der Beek Dies

May 13, 2026, 14:20
UKEntertainment

Introduction

Actor James Van Der Beek died on February 11. His wife tells us about the family and their money.

Main Body

James was 48 years old. He had cancer in his colon. He thought he was okay at first, but he was sick. Before he died, he and his wife Kimberly said they love each other again with their friends. James did not have much money. He did not get much money from his old TV show. He sold his things to keep his house. Then, his friends started a fund for his six children. Many famous people gave money. They collected more than 2.8 million dollars. Kimberly is very sad. She is not in shock now, but she feels the loss. She feels closer to God. She says thank you to the people who helped her.

Conclusion

The family is sad. They have money from friends and Kimberly has her faith.

Learning

🕰️ The 'Past' Trick

Look at how the story tells us things that already happened. We change the action word (verb) to show it is finished.

The Pattern: Word → Added 'ed'

  • help → helped
  • collect → collected
  • start → started

⚠️ The 'Rule Breakers'

Some words are rebels. They do not use 'ed'. You must remember these special changes:

  • is (now) → was (past)
  • have (now) → had (past)
  • say (now) → said (past)
  • sell (now) → sold (past)

🚫 Saying 'No' in the Past

To say something did not happen, use did not + the normal word.

  • Wrong: He did not sold his house. ❌
  • Right: He did not sell his house. ✅
  • Right: He did not have much money. ✅

Vocabulary Learning

actor (n.)
A person who performs in movies, plays, or television shows.
Example:The actor performed on stage.
died (v.)
To stop living or to pass away.
Example:She died peacefully.
family (n.)
A group of people related by blood or marriage.
Example:The family gathered for dinner.
money (n.)
Currency used for buying goods and services.
Example:They saved their money for the future.
cancer (n.)
A disease where cells grow out of control.
Example:He was diagnosed with cancer.
sick (adj.)
Not feeling healthy or well.
Example:She felt sick after the flu.
friends (n.)
People you like and enjoy being with.
Example:Friends came to support him.
fund (n.)
Money collected for a special purpose.
Example:They started a fund to help.
children (n.)
Young people who are not yet adults.
Example:The children played in the park.
famous (adj.)
Well known by many people.
Example:The famous singer sang.
thank (v.)
To express gratitude.
Example:He thanked everyone for their help.
faith (n.)
Strong belief or trust in something.
Example:She had faith in herself.
loss (n.)
The state of no longer having something.
Example:The loss of the dog was hard.
shock (n.)
A sudden and strong emotional response.
Example:He was in shock after the accident.
God (n.)
A supreme being worshiped in many religions.
Example:God is a symbol of hope.