United Kingdom, Feb. 15 -- James Van Der Beek's friends helped him secure a down payment for his home before his death.

The Dawson's Creek actor - who passed away on 11 February after battling cancer - and his wife Kimberly left California for Austin, Texas, with their children in 2020 and although they had been renting their ranch, James was able to take steps to secure their abode in the time before he died.

His spokesperson told People magazine: "James secured down payment for the Texas ranch for the family with the help of friends through a trust so they could shift from rent to mortgage."

In the wake of the Varsity Blues star's death, a GoFundMe page was set up to help support Kimberly and their children, Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, A...