Jamie-Lynn Sigler is still mourning the death of her "dear friend" James Van Der Beek

Jamie-Lynn said: "I am mourning along with the rest of the world. My dear friend James Van Der Beek passed away after a brave, beautiful, tireless fight against cancer.

"His gorgeous wife, Kimberly, and his six beautiful children are his legacy."

The actress, who also lives with multiple sclerosis, went on to describe Van Der Beek as a man whose wisdom and generosity touched everyone around him.

She reflected: "James' wisdom that he shared with us all the time, he so generously shared with the world. He was larger than life, and he still is."

Jamie-Lynn also revealed that she attended a memorial at the Van Der Beek family home, where she spotted what she believed was a sign from her late friend - a "giant J" formed in the clouds.

She shared: "The James that you hear being spoken about is the James he was 24-7. I've never seen a man so devoted to his family and his craft and his mission. He had dedication and conviction like no other. And he cared more - he made us all better people."

The actress - who is best known for playing Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007 - said Van Der Beek and his family were always among the first to offer support in difficult times.

She continued: "I'm going to miss him a lot and I'm really, really sad that my buddy is not here. But I know he's going to do, as he told us, great magic from above."