James Van Der Beek Reflects On Leaving Los Angeles, Decision To Move 6 Kids To Texas

“There is no shortage of things to do for sure."

In 2020, James Van Der Beek and his family moved from Los Angeles to Texas, hoping to trade the bright lights and pressures of Hollywood for a slower, simpler life on a ranch near Austin.

In a recent interview with Good Morning America, Van Der Beek, 46, reflected on their past three years in the Lone Star State, revealing what days are like for the family of eight and how they’ve thrived living closer to nature.

"Sunsets are our favorite. We've got a great spot where we can go watch the sun go down and the kids can play,” he said. “I put up a bunch of ropes in the trees and they can run around and swing and kick the soccer ball and throw the football. There is no shortage of things to do for sure."

Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly have been married since August 2010. They are parents to six children—Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah—under the age of 13.

"I know for me, it's been really centering and I feel like for the kids, it's been grounding, and a different kind of education that we never could have offered them in a classroom," the Dawson’s Creek star said in a 2022 conversation with People.

In addition to raising a truckload of kiddos, Van Der Beek has no problem filling his time away from Hollywood. He told GMA that he spends his days working on the ranch, “attempting” carpentry, and tending to the family garden. A lack of food delivery services inspired them to start cooking more.

But now, after a few years of Mother Nature’s healing, Van Der Beek said he’s ready to start acting again. The family is currently mulling a return to California.

"Living in Texas, I've been offered basically everything that I thought I really wanted before, and I just haven't had it in me to say ‘yes,’ to leave where we're at," he admitted to GMA. "But I think it's time. My big thing is that my kids come with me, so we'll all go wherever we're going and figure it out."

“This break has been really, really good for me,” Van Der Beek added. “I think I've probably figured out a lot more of who I am and what's important in these last couple of years."

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