James Van Der Beek announced on Monday that his mother, Melinda, passed away at the age of 70 last week.
The mourning "Dawson's Creek" star posted several images of his mom to Instagram alongside his tearful announcement.
"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," he wrote. "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."
A few of James' photos showed his mom with his children.
"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."
He added, "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."
The death is another recent tragedy for James and his family. Last month, the actor's wife, Kimberly, announced that she suffered a miscarriage at 17 weeks of pregnancy. The couple also lost an unborn child in November 2019.
"To all the families who have gone through this: You are not alone," James said on June 20.