<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Civil rights activist and two-time Democrat presidential candidate Jesse Jackson died Tuesday. He was 84. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jackson’s family announced his death on Tuesday morning. A cause of death was not provided, but Jackson </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jesse-jackson-on-life-support-after-being-hospitalized-for-neurological-condition"><span style="font-weight: 400;">was placed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on life support in November after he was hospitalized over a neurological condition called progressive supranuclear palsy. In 2017, Jackson announced that he had Parkinson&#8217;s disease. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity,” his family said. “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 8, 1941. He graduated from </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in 1964. Soon after, he began working</span> closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was heavily involved in King&#8217;s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Jackson was with King in Memphis in 1968 when he was assassinated.</p>
<p>Working for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Jackson ran &#8220;Operation Breadbasket&#8221; in Chicago. The <a href="https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/operation-breadbasket">program</a> was meant to create economic opportunities for black people and would encourage boycotts of companies that did not “negotiate&#8221; for a &#8220;more equitable employment practice.&#8221;</p>
<p>He left the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 after he was suspended for “administrative improprieties and repeated acts of violation of organizational policy.”</p>
<p>Jackson ran for president in both 1984 and 1988, seeking the Democratic nomination. He embraced far-left policies and opposed the agenda of former President Ronald Reagan. He won about 18% of the vote in 1984 and won 11 states four years later. His 1984 campaign hit a snag after he <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-activist-dies-rcna42408">used</a> a slur to refer to Jewish people and New York City.</p>
<p>Throughout the 1990s, Jackson was elected to lobby for statehood for Washington, D.C. Jackson founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1996, which grew out of his 1984 presidential campaign that united minorities opposed to Reagan&#8217;s policies.</p>
<p>In 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Bill Clinton.</p>
<p>In recent years, Jackson has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jesse-jackson-electoral-college-must-be-abolished-paul-bois">advocated</a> ending the Electoral College and has sharply criticized President Donald Trump. Jackson called Trump a &#8220;racist&#8221; and a &#8220;weapon of mass destruction.&#8221;</p>
<p>“The language of Donald Trump has been a source of shame for our nation. Humiliation and untruth,” Jackson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flashback-when-jesse-jackson-praised-president-paul-bois">said</a> back in 2018. In 2020, Jackson endorsed the presidential campaign of leftist Bernie Sanders.</p>
<p>Reacting to the news of his death, Trump said that he knew Jackson before becoming president and had provided office space for the Rainbow Coalition at his building in New York.</p>
<p>&#8220;I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and &#8216;street smarts.&#8217; He was very gregarious — Someone who truly loved people! Despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way,&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social.</p>
<p>&#8220;He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed!&#8221; Trump added.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their children, Santita Jackson, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Jonathan Luther Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson, and Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson Jr. He had another daughter, Ashley Jackson, from another woman. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A public ceremony for Jackson will be held in Chicago. </span></p>
<p><em>This is a breaking story. Refresh for updates. </em></p>


African American Activist Jesse Jackson Speaking at Podium

Civil Rights Activist Jesse Jackson Dead At 84 — The Political Past He Leaves Behind

Celebrities

Civil Rights

Jesse Jackson

Obituaries

Politics

<p>Actor Ted Levine apologized recently for his iconic turn as cross-dressing serial killer Jame Gumb in the 1991  horror classic &#8220;The Silence of the Lambs,&#8221; saying that it was &#8220;f*cking wrong&#8221; that the film had &#8220;vilified&#8221; the apparent gender confusion of his character.</p>
<p>Levine told The Hollywood Reporter that his intent had always been to play Gumb — nicknamed &#8220;Buffalo Bill&#8221; — as a &#8220;f*cked-up heterosexual man&#8221; despite the fact that the character dresses in women&#8217;s clothing, wears makeup, and skins his female victims in an effort to make himself a suit of female flesh.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.&#8221;</p>
<p>Levine said that when they were making the film — based on the 1988 Thomas Harris novel by the same title — he had not been particularly concerned, but that &#8220;over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender — it’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s f*cking wrong. And you can quote me on that.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I didn’t play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just a f*cked-up heterosexual man. That’s what I was doing,&#8221; Levine explained.</p>
<p>Director Jonathan Demme offered a <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/silence-of-the-lambs-lgbt-criticism_n_5609372">similar take</a> on Buffalo Bill&#8217;s motivations, arguing during a 2014 interview that the character was drowning in self-loathing and that turning himself into a woman was a means of escape from who he was rather than an effort to become something he specifically wanted to be.</p>
<p>&#8220;He didn&#8217;t wish to be another gender. He didn&#8217;t really have a sexual preference. He loathed himself — he wanted to transform himself so that there was no sense of him in the &#8216;new&#8217; him [and] becoming a woman &#8230; that was his method of doing it.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We were really loyal to the book. As we made the film, there was just no question in our minds that Buffalo Bill was a completely aberrant personality — that he wasn’t gay or trans,&#8221; producer Edward Saxon <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/02/16/celebrity-news/silence-of-the-lambs-star-ted-levine-denounces-his-legendary-villain-role-after-transgender-criticism/?utm_term=Autofeed&amp;utm_campaign=pagesix&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter#Echobox=1771222232">added</a>. &#8220;He was sick. To that extent, we missed it. From my point of view, we weren’t sensitive enough to the legacy of a lot of stereotypes and their ability to harm.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;There’s regret, but it didn’t come from any place of malice. It actually came from a place of seeing this guy. We all had dear friends and family who were gay. We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology,&#8221; he continued.</p>
<p>Despite the confusion surrounding Buffalo Bill, &#8220;The Silence of the Lambs&#8221; became the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926/awards/">third film</a> in Academy history to sweep all five major awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Director (Demme), and Best Screenplay (adapted). The other two films to do so were &#8220;It Happened One Night&#8221; (1934) and &#8220;One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest&#8221; (1975).</p>


“Child Of Grace” – Los Angeles Premiere

‘Silence Of The Lambs’ Actor Apologizes To ‘Trans Folks’ For Iconic Cross-Dressing Role

'Silence Of The Lambs' Actor Apologizes To 'Trans Folks' For Iconic Cross-Dressing Role

Hollywood

Movies

Transgender

Woke Culture

<p>Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall died on Sunday, a Facebook post from his wife confirmed on Monday. He was 95 years old.</p>
<p>Luciana Duvall, 54, an Argentine actress and director who has been married to the actor since 2005, shared the news in a post including a photo of them in days past.</p>
<p>&#8220;Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort,&#8221; she wrote in a statement.</p>
<p>&#8220;To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.&#8221;</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRobertDuvallOfficial%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0WGqtC9fNEPtTpFwv5WtsQen31nUSkunt13QMTz84vuAToborwYSgsDifnhBzk8cTl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="811" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>After a short attempt at the military life, Duvall made a go at acting — and eventually became friends with a few others who were also struggling to break into the business around the same time — Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and James Caan.</p>
<p>Duvall won the coveted Best Actor Oscar in 1984 for &#8220;Tender Mercies,&#8221; and was nominated in the same category for 1980&#8217;s &#8220;The Great Santini&#8221; and for &#8220;The Apostle&#8221; in 1997. He was nominated for Academy Awards for supporting roles in 2014&#8217;s &#8220;The Judge,&#8221; 1998&#8217;s &#8220;A Civil Action,&#8221; 1979&#8217;s &#8220;Apocalypse Now,&#8221; and 1972&#8217;s &#8220;The Godfather.&#8221;</p>
<p>Duvall&#8217;s acting career ran for well over half a century, from episodes of &#8220;Alfred Hitchcock Presents&#8221; in the early 1960s to &#8220;The Pale Blue Eye&#8221; in 2022, that latter of which also featured a cameo from Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yes-thats-john-fetterman-in-christian-bales-new-movie-thats-a-face-that-fits-in-the-1830s">John Fetterman</a> (D-PA). His first big-screen role was the reclusive Boo Radley in the 1962 film &#8220;To Kill a Mockingbird.&#8221;</p>
<p>Although he tried to keep his distance from politics in more recent years, Duvall was well-known in Hollywood for his conservative views. A lifelong Republican, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by former President George W. Bush in 2005.</p>


CANADA-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-CINEMA-FESTIVAL

Robert Duvall, Star Of ‘Apocalypse Now’ And ‘The Godfather,’ Dead At 95

Academy Awards

U.S.

<p data-path-to-node="2">Leave it to filmmaker Spike Lee to prioritize a political costume over a historic moment of athletic achievement.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="2">As the NBA descended upon the Intuit Dome in Southern California for the 2026 All-Star Game, the headlines could have belonged to Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdijam, who made history as the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game. Representing the World All-Stars on Team Stars, Avdija wore the Israeli flag on his jersey, a silent but powerful nod to his homeland.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="2">&#8220;I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation,&#8221; Avdija remarked, celebrating a journey that saw him rise from a 16-year-old prodigy at Maccabi Tel Aviv to an NBA powerhouse averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game, one of only three players this season (alongside Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić) to average a 25/7/6 stat line.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="4">But while Avdija was joining the elite company of Jokić and Dončić on the stat sheet, Lee was busy making a statement. The Oscar winner arrived courtside decked out in pro-Palestinian attire, a move clearly designed to counter the presence of the Israeli star.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The NBA has their first Israeli All-Star (Deni Avdija) &amp; Spike Lee decided to wear a “Free Palestine” outfit… <a href="https://t.co/jwky5s0Q4K">pic.twitter.com/jwky5s0Q4K</a></p>
<p>— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyRoot_/status/2023197033348370568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
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<p data-path-to-node="4">It is a familiar script for Lee, whose career has been peppered with controversies regarding the Jewish community.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="5">In 1990, Lee was forced to pen a New York Times op-ed titled &#8220;I Am Not an Anti-Semite&#8221; following the <a href="https://www.jta.org/archive/adl-criticizes-filmmaker-spike-lee-for-stereotyping-jewish-characters">backlash</a> over his stereotypical portrayal of Jewish businessmen in &#8220;Mo&#8217; Better Blues.&#8221; More recently, in 2021, Lee was caught in a firestorm for <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/spike-lee-to-re-edit-documentary-featuring-antisemitic-9-11-conspiracy-theorist/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">featuring</a> 9/11 conspiracy theorists—including those who have entertained antisemitic tropes and blamed Israel for the terror attacks—in his HBO documentary series. He eventually retreated to the editing room to scrub the segment after intense public pressure.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="6">The contrast in Southern California was stark. While Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun, who is Turkish, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/spike-lee-wears-pro-palestinian-outfit-nba-all-star-game-israeli-born-player-competing">offered</a> a class act by praising his &#8220;good friend&#8221; Avdija and calling for &#8220;peace in all world,&#8221; Lee chose the path of the provocateur.</p>
<p data-path-to-node="6">As the league attempted to showcase a global game of &#8220;love and staying together,&#8221; Lee’s wardrobe choice served as a reminder that for some, the narrative of grievance always trumps the merit of the individual.</p>


MixCollage-16-Feb-2026-10-23-AM-2454

Spike Lee Chooses ‘Free Palestine’ Stunt Over Celebrating NBA’s First Israeli All-Star

Israel

Palestinians

Spike Lee

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When James Van Der Beek died this week at the age of 48, most mainstream headlines focused on how he was the face of the teen drama “Dawson&#8217;s Creek” in the late 1990s. That’s certainly true. But in the end, what mattered most to the most iconic teen heartthrob happened long after that show aired its finale in 2003.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2020, Van Der Beek rejected Hollywood life and did something radical, taking his wife Kimberly and their children and trading Los Angeles for a ranch outside Austin, Texas. At the time, he said it was for the good of his family, not for the applause.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just after moving to his 36-acre property, the actor told Today Parents: “We were living on this tiny little lot with a tiny backyard. He [then 8-year-old son Joshua] seemed to be like an animal in a cage that was too small.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A few years later they weren’t missing the fame and glamour. They were enjoying a simpler life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We love it. We have a lot more space,” Van Der Beek told Fox News Digital in 2022, as The Daily Wire previously </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-van-der-beek-reflects-on-moving-to-texas-says-return-to-hollywood-would-have-to-fit-around-his-family"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reported</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “We all need a more immediate connection to nature. It’s been a really, really great move and the kids are really happy.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The parks have been amazing,” he continued. “We’ve been going to state parks and the national parks. It’s just one of the benefits of getting out of the big city was getting to a place where we could just have more space right outside our door. It’s a very, it’s a very different life.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We watch the sunset,” the actor explained. “We know what phase the moon is in. We can actually see stars, which is a new thing.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity to leave the bright lights of the city behind. But he is someone who wholeheartedly embraced his new reality and dedicated his life to fatherhood. The actor didn’t brag constantly or post for the likes. Instead, the “Varsity Blues” alum appeared to gain a new appreciation for life. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and shared it with fans one year later. He was optimistic about fighting it, but still took time to reflect on his own mortality.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On his 48th birthday in March 2025, knowing he was in the fight of his life, Van Der Beek posted a video that deserves to be remembered as his final lesson to a culture that loves to pretend people can live forever. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never really all that fulfilling. And then I became a husband, and that was much better. And then I became a father, and that was the ultimate,” he told social media followers in a clip that has gone viral after his death.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I could define myself then as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we&#8217;re so lucky to live on,” he said. “And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition to the question, &#8216;Who am I?&#8217; &#8216;What am I?&#8217;”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek went on with some deep reflections.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye. I had to come nose to nose with death. And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me,” he continued. “I was away for treatment. I could no longer be a husband that was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn&#8217;t working. I couldn&#8217;t even be a steward of the land, because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you&#8217;re supposed to prune them.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The answer to his struggle came through meditation, prayers, and a spiritual journey that deepened his faith, he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;And so I was faced with the question, if I am just a too skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;I meditated, and the answer came through: I am worthy of God&#8217;s love. Simply because I exist. And if I&#8217;m worthy of God&#8217;s love, shouldn&#8217;t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He spoke openly on multiple occasions about how cancer transformed his relationship with faith, plus how it changed his whole life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;Before cancer, God was something I tried to fit into my life as much as possible,&#8221; Van Der Beek </span><a href="https://extratv.com/2026/02/12/james-van-der-beek-called-his-cancer-a-gift-in-his-final-interview/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> during a &#8220;Today&#8221; show appearance in December. &#8220;After cancer, I feel like a connection to God, whatever that is, is kind of the whole point of this exercise on this planet.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also called his diagnosis a gift that would help him grow as a person. “I went into shock … One of the things I was really lucky about was as soon as I heard the news, I thought, ‘This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me,’&#8221; he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actor explained, “I had this little voice in my head that said, ‘You’re going to make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn’t have this extreme of a diagnosis. And it’s going to add healthy, happy years to your life.’”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek used his platform to share real wisdom — not curated self-help platitudes, but insights from a man facing his own demise. He posted about embracing his family and living in gratitude for every day he was given. Until the end, he showed that a terminal diagnosis can be met with strength and stoicism.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When his wife of 15 years announced his death on Wednesday, she wrote that he met his final days &#8220;with courage, faith, and grace.&#8221; Anyone following his journey saw exactly that as Van Der Beek consistently chose inner peace over bitterness and despair.</span></p>
<p>What others said about him following his death is also a testament to his character. Van Der Beek received loving tributes from friends and former colleagues, with his &#8220;Dawson&#8217;s Creek&#8221; costar Katie Holmes <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/katie-holmes-shares-heartfelt-tribute-to-dawsons-creek-co-star-james-van-der-beek">referring to</a> his life as &#8220;the journey of a hero.&#8221; Such accolades are to be expected from loved ones, but the most telling one came from his ex-wife, Heather McComb.</p>
<p>&#8220;James was a beautiful soul filled with so much light, love, talent, humor, depth, sensitivity, knowledge and a deep love of God that shined through him,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUqoT1Dj0cs/">posted</a> on Instagram. &#8220;He shined so bright yet was so humble and human. Always searching, always growing, always going deeper, always chasing things outside his comfort zone.&#8221;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James Van Der Beek&#8217;s life after Hollywood is the antithesis of everything celebrities are known for. He had six kids despite elites telling us children are burdens. He was devoted to his wife. He ditched Hollywood for Texas. And then he talked about God and faith even when it wasn’t cool.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world lost a good person this week, but to his six children, he leaves a legacy that lasts forever. To the rest of us, he leaves some hope that Hollywood is still hiding a few gems.</span></p>


James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek Was One Of The Good Ones

Death

Entertainment

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A GoFundMe set up for the widow of actor James Van Der Beek and their six children has raised more than $1.6 million since it was published yesterday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 48-year-old “Dawson’s Creek” star died Wednesday following a battle with colorectal cancer. The <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-james-van-der-beeks-family">fundraiser</a> is meant to “help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“James Van Der Beek was a beloved husband, father, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around him. After a long and courageous battle with cancer, James passed away on February 11, 2026 leaving behind his devoted wife, Kimberly, and their six wonderful children. Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care,” the GoFundMe description says. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have depleted the family&#8217;s funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time. The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prior to his death, Van Der Beek partnered with the auction company Propstore to sell some of the items he had accumulated over the course of his career to help pay for his medical bills, as The Daily Wire previously </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-james-van-der-beek-to-auction-show-memorabilia-to-fund-cancer-treatments"><span style="font-weight: 400;">reported</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now,” Van Der Beek said in a statement in November.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He added, “While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore’s auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.” Items sold at auction in December included memorabilia from both the teen drama series “Dawson’s Creek” and the popular film “Varsity Blues” (1999). </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More than 32,000 people have contributed to the GoFundMe as of Thursday afternoon, including actress Zoe Saldaña, who set up a recurring donation of $2,500 a month. Celebrities Derek Hough, Ricki Lake, Lydia Hearst, and Kaley Cuoco also made donations. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The top donation of $25,000 came from Guardant Health, a biotech company based in Palo Alto. “James was the first brand ambassador for Guardant Health and our Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer screening, reflecting our shared belief in the power of patient voices,” the company <a href="https://x.com/GuardantHealth/status/2021709437820354592">wrote</a> in an X post shared Wednesday. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was an honor to witness the unwavering commitment he demonstrated over the past year to raising awareness of colorectal cancer and encouraging more people to get screened. His voice and advocacy will leave a lasting mark on the fight against colorectal cancer.”</span></p>
<p>Legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, also contributed $25,000 to the GoFundMe. Van Der Beek&#8217;s character on &#8220;Dawson&#8217;s Creek&#8221; famously idolized Spielberg, a connection the legendary director acknowledged in a 2025 video tribute when Van Der Beek was battling cancer.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The original goal for the GoFundMe was $500,000, but it was later increased to $1.5 million.</span></p>


James Van Der Beek Kimberly Van Der Beek

Fundraiser For James Van Der Beek’s Family Tops $1.6 Million In Donations

GoFundMe

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actress Katie Holmes, who starred alongside James Van Der Beek on the popular teen drama “Dawson’s Creek” in the late 1990s, shared a moving tribute to her longtime friend following his death from cancer at the age of 48.</span></p>
<p>Holmes posted a handwritten letter dedicated to Van Der Beek on Instagram that began, <span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;James, thank you. To share a space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other&#8217;s hearts are safe in their expression.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth,&#8221; she continued, before describing Van Der Beek as possessing &#8220;compassion, bravery, selflessness, and strength.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;An appreciation for life with the integrity that life is art — creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children — the journey of a Hero,&#8221; Holmes went on. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his impact on it.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Holmes wrote in the Instagram post caption that Van Der Beek’s death was &#8220;a lot to process,&#8221; and that her tribute was written with a &#8220;heavy heart.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey. He is beloved. Kimberly, we love you and will be here always for you and your beautiful children,&#8221; she added in the caption, referencing Van Der Beek’s widow and kids.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and had been candid about sharing his experiences after publicly revealing his diagnosis the following year. Last September, he had to cancel an appearance at a scheduled “Dawson’s Creek” reunion event due to his ongoing illness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actor sent a pre-recorded video message to the event to share with fans. &#8220;I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight,&#8221; he </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-van-der-beek-sends-video-message-to-dawsons-creek-reunion-after-illness-knocks-him-out"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the clip. &#8220;From the cast to the crew to everybody who&#8217;s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. </span></p>


Katie Holmes James Van Der Beek

Katie Holmes Shares Heartfelt Tribute To ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Co-Star James Van Der Beek

Katie Holmes Shares Heartfelt Tribute To 'Dawson's Creek' Co-Star James Van Der Beek

Television

<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his starring role in the 1990s teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at the age of 48.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">His wife, Kimberly, announced the news on Instagram Wednesday. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the mother of six shared.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“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 post said. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The actor was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and has been candid about sharing his experiences since publicly revealing his diagnosis the following year. Last September, he had to cancel an appearance at a scheduled “Dawson’s Creek” reunion event due to his ongoing illness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Van Der Beek was born in Connecticut in 1977. As a child, he had dreams of becoming a professional athlete, but changed focus after an injury. He scored his career-making role on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1998 alongside up-and-comers Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">The actor had several other television roles, including a fictionalized version of himself on the cult classic sitcom “Don&#8217;t Trust the B&#8212;- in Apartment 23” (2012–2013), and an FBI agent in “CSI: Cyber.” He also had recurring guest roles on “How I Met Your Mother” and “Pose.” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Van Der Beek’s film credits include “Varsity Blues” (1998), “Texas Rangers” (2001), “The Rules of Attraction” (2002), “Formosa Betrayed” (2009), “Labor Day” (2013), and “Bad Hair” (2020).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Last year, Van Der Beek reflected on what his cancer battle had taught him, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dawsons-creek-star-reflects-on-cancer-battle-i-am-worthy-of-gods-love">reported</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“I could define myself as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we’re so lucky to live on,” he told Instagram followers at the time. “And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition of the question, ‘Who am I? What am I?&#8217;”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye,” Van Der Beek continued. “I had to come nose to nose with death. And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me. I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who is helpful to my wife.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400">“So often we define ourselves by our roles in life or by what we do, but what if those things change? Who are we when it’s just us, alone, with nothing external to anchor us to a particular identity? And I meditated and the answer came through,” Van Der Beek went on. “I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.”</span></p>
<p>Van Der Beek is survived by his wife of 15 years and their six children.</p>


‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star James Van Der Beek Dies At 48

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cause of death for legendary “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek” actress Catherine O’Hara has been revealed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed on Monday that O&#8217;Hara died after suffering from a pulmonary embolism, per </span><a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/09/catherine-ohara-cause-of-death/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TMZ</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. It was also noted that the actress had rectal cancer, which was listed as the underlying cause of the embolism. O’Hara was 71 years old at the time of her death on January 30.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The death certificate said O’Hara was cremated and that her remains were given to her husband, the outlet noted. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The iconic star was best known for her roles in movies such as “Beetlejuice” (1988), “Home Alone” (1990), “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992), “Waiting for Guffman” (1996), and “Best in Show” (2000). O’Hara also starred in the cult classic TV comedy “Schitt’s Creek,” which earned her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">O’Hara’s manager confirmed the news of her death, saying at the time that she died following a “brief illness.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">O’Hara had a long and varied Hollywood career spanning TV and movies, mostly in comedies. Her most recent project was the Apple TV+ series “The Studio” alongside Seth Rogen. Her role in the series earned her an Emmy nomination in 2025.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Canadian actress was born in Toronto in 1954 as the sixth of seven children. Like so many other comedic actors, she got her start at the Second City Theater in Toronto alongside legends such as Dan Aykroyd, Joe Flaherty, Gilda Radner, and Eugene Levy. She became a staple character before moving on to films and scripted television.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">O’Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of “Beetlejuice” in 1988. The pair wed in 1992 and had two sons: Matthew in 1994 and Luke in 1997.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">O’Hara stayed close with her “Home Alone” co-star Macaulay Culkin for decades. After her passing, he posted on </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUJTe8rEmO4/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, “Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I’ll see you later.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her longtime collaborator Eugene Levy also mourned the loss. “Words seem inadequate to express the loss I feel today,” he said in a </span><a href="https://ew.com/eugene-levy-catherine-o-hara-tribute-after-her-death-11896831"><span style="font-weight: 400;">statement</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to Entertainment Weekly. “I had the honor of knowing and working with the great Catherine O’Hara for over 50 years. From our beginnings on the Second City stage, to SCTV, to the movies we did with Chris Guest, to our six glorious years on Schitt’s Creek, I cherished our working relationship, but most of all our friendship.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He added, “I will miss her. My heart goes out to Bo, Matthew, Luke, and the entire O’Hara family.”</span></p>


Catherine O’Hara

Catherine O’Hara’s Cause Of Death Revealed

Catherine O'Hara's Cause Of Death Revealed

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brad Arnold, the founder and lead singer of the popular band 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The band released a </span><a href="https://x.com/3doorsdown/status/2020209301915390037/photo/1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">statement</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to X on Saturday. &#8220;With his beloved wife Jennifer and his family by his side, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a founding member, vocalist, and original drummer of 3 Doors Down, Brad helped redefine mainstream rock music, blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting and lyrical themes that resonated with everyday listeners,” the statement continued.</span></p>
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<p>— 3 Doors Down (@3doorsdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/3doorsdown/status/2020209301915390037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Brad’s songwriting became a cultural touchstone for a generation, producing some of the most enduring hits of the 2000s, including the band’s breakout hit, ‘Kryptonite,’ which he wrote in his math class when he was just 15 years old. His music reverberated far beyond the stage, creating moments of connection, joy, faith, and shared experiences that will live on long after the stages he performed on.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Above all, he was a devoted husband to Jennifer, and his kindness, humor, and generosity touched everyone fortunate enough to know him. Those closest to him will remember not only his talent, but his warmth, humility, faith, and deep love for his family and friends,” the statement concluded, adding the family is “deeply grateful” for the love and support.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arnold </span><a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/brad-arnold-3-doors-down-cancer-tour"><span style="font-weight: 400;">announced in May 2025</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma and that 3 Doors Down would be canceling their summer tour. Despite the serious diagnosis, the singer said he had “no fear.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While not overtly political, 3 Doors Down played at the &#8220;Make America Great Again Welcome Celebration&#8221; ahead of President Trump’s inauguration in 2017. When asked about playing the event when other musicians steered clear, Arnold </span><a href="https://loudwire.com/3-doors-down-brad-arnold-donald-trump-inauguration-concert-its-all-about-america-were-proud-to-be-here/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reporters, &#8220;Man, it&#8217;s all about America. We&#8217;re proud to be here.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;We love America, man. This is gonna be a great experience. It&#8217;s a great honor to be here and we&#8217;re proud to be here,” he added.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The singer struggled with alcoholism in the past, but later committed to sobriety and became an outspoken Christian, even sharing that message from the stage. In August 2024, he made headlines for preaching the Gospel during a concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before performing &#8220;Away from the Sun,&#8221; Arnold addressed the audience, </span><a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/3-doors-down-lead-singer-stops-concert-to-share-the-gospel.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">saying</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: “I feel like I can identify with this song more than most of our songs. &#8230; This world surrounds [us with] a message we’ll never be good enough, we’ll never be strong enough, we’ll never be beautiful enough, we’ll never be rich enough.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My friends, I just want to take a second to tell you, that’s an absolute lie. You are loved. You are enough, and you will win. Not only can you win, but you will win. You’ll always be enough for one reason. And that’s because Jesus Christ loves you.”</span></p>


Brad Arnold

Brad Arnold, 3 Doors Down Singer Who Played Trump’s Inauguration, Dies At 47

Music

rock music

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actor Timothy Busfield has been indicted by a grand jury on Friday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The celeb pleaded not guilty on all counts. His lawyer, Stanton &#8220;Larry&#8221; Stein, said the indictment was expected but still disappointing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;As the saying goes, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich,&#8221; the attorney said in a statement. &#8220;What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial. The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the State’s evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This prosecution appears driven by something other than the facts or the law. Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State’s case in open court — where evidence matters — not behind closed doors,&#8221; he added.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Busfield stands accused of sexually assaulting twin boys beginning when they were 7 years old. The actor worked with the child actors, born in 2014, on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” which aired on Fox from 2022 to 2025. Busfield directed some episodes and was named an executive producer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An investigation began in November 2024 when a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor reported his suspicions of sexual abuse and grooming to authorities. Investigators initially didn’t press charges, but the case was reopened in September 2025 when one of the boys reported the alleged abuse to his doctor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actor faced two previous sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, but was never charged. Busfield recorded a video of himself professing his innocence just before turning himself in to the police last month.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His wife, actress Melissa Gilbert of “Little House on the Prairie” fame, released a </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melissa-gilbert-speaks-out-after-husband-timothy-busfield-charged-with-sex-abuse"><span style="font-weight: 400;">statement</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in late January thanking fans for their “love, patience, and support” as she and her husband went through this “extraordinarily difficult time.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;As with all criminal proceedings, Mr. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law,&#8221; Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUbF_SPlHHs/?hl=en"><span style="font-weight: 400;">statement</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> shared on social media. “This case will proceed through the judicial process and is expected to move forward to trial.&#8221;</span></p>


Timothy Busfield

Actor Timothy Busfield Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges

Crime

Indictment

New Mexico

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After being briefly banned from Instagram, “Sopranos” star Drea de Matteo is back with a vengeance to launch her new podcast, &#8220;Ultrafree,&#8221; on Monday, February 9. The series will feature “unscripted conversations with artists, dissidents, whistleblowers, and independent thinkers.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Emmy Award-winning actress teased the project with an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWtnv6kmhh/?igsh=MTljNjUzcHB5MDE1NQ%3D%3D">Instagram post</a> on Friday. “No script. No filter. No leash. Just this ol b!tch barkin up the wrong trees as usual,” de Matteo wrote in the caption.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Ultrafree podcast grew out of the actress’ popular, non-conformist clothing line by the same name that captures the spirit of rebellion and brutal truth-telling that de Matteo has become known for. Per the podcast description, “Each episode examines power, culture, and the narratives we inherit—questioning who benefits, who is silenced, and what is deliberately left unseen.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Drea has created a space for curiosity over conformity, unity over division, and inquiry over performance. The conversations are intimate, deliberate, and unafraid to go where others wouldn&#8217;t dare,” it says.</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="INTRODUCING...THE ULTRAFREE PODCAST BY Drea de Matteo" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K8g3MKBC5Hs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “Sons of Anarchy” alum was once a self-described “hardcore liberal” who, like so many others, started identifying more with conservatives during the wild times of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I had Trump Derangement Syndrome,” she told The Daily Wire during a 2024 </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sopranos-star-sounds-off-on-celebrity-endorsements-why-do-people-care"><span style="font-weight: 400;">interview</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “I believed the hype. I listened to the real news! I didn’t do my own research.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time, de Matteo said most celebrities are influenced by peer pressure and groupthink.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It feels sad to see how misinformed [celebrities] are,” she said. “We’ve been watching them try to dismantle anything from God to country to human sovereignty.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s why she opted to launch a clothing line for true free thinkers like herself. To de Matteo, it was because neither party represented her fully.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This realization led to the creation of Ultrafree, a streetwear line she launched in 2023 to “make freedom cool again.” She said Ultrafree is not another brand geared at conservatives, but rather caters to any American who feels as she does: adrift, frustrated, but still hopeful about what this country can be.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The pronoun for the whole movement is ‘we, the people,’” she told The Daily Wire. “It’s not red, it’s not blue, no more labels … Ultrafree is really about critical thinking and not allowing your mind to be hijacked.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The actress said liberals are welcome to embrace this concept of freedom for all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This isn’t just a conservative movement,” she said of the clothing brand at the time. “This is a movement by hippies and wild cards and lunatics like us as well. We wanna be free.”</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">The podcast officially premieres Monday, February 9, 2026, and will be available on all major platforms.</span></p>


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