James Van Der Beek Opens Up About His Cancer Journey

In a heartfelt interview with Craig Melvin on the Today show, actor James Van Der Beek shared a candid update on his battle with colorectal cancer. The 48-year-old Dawson’s Creek star revealed his diagnosis publicly in November 2024 after dealing with it privately for some time. “I feel a little bit better every month,” Van Der Beek shared. “It’s required more of me—more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong, I didn’t know I was this strong.” Recalling the moment he received his diagnosis, Van Der Beek described coming out of anesthesia after his colonoscopy and entering a state of shock. However, even in that difficult moment, he found a surprising perspective: “I had this little voice in my head that said, ‘You’re gonna make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn’t have this extreme of a diagnosis, and it’s gonna add healthy, happy years to your life.'”

This journey has transformed Van Der Beek’s approach to life in profound ways. “I don’t think I knew what it was to slow down before,” he reflected, explaining how cancer has taught him to carefully examine everything he consumes and puts into his body. But beyond these physical considerations, he emphasized that “the biggest change I’d say would be this journey of self-love.” Faith has become a central pillar in his life since the diagnosis. “Before cancer, God was something I tried to fit into my life as much as possible,” he explained. “After cancer, I feel like a connection to God, whatever that is, is kind of the whole point of this exercise on this planet.” This spiritual awakening has given him a new framework for understanding his experience and finding meaning within his struggle, helping him maintain the positive outlook that Craig Melvin described as “refreshing and inspiring” during their time together at Van Der Beek’s Texas ranch.

Family has been an essential source of strength for Van Der Beek throughout his health battle. He lives with his wife Kimberly and their six children—Olivia (15), Joshua (13), Annabel (11), Emilia (9), Gwendolyn (7), and Jeremiah (4)—whose support he credits with helping him survive this ordeal. “I would not be alive were it not for my wife,” he stated with conviction. “She has just stepped up as a caretaker, as a nurse, as head of the household.” Rather than shielding his children completely from his illness, Van Der Beek has found value in including them in appropriate ways. “You realize that resilience is not only something they have and can build, but is the best thing for them,” he explained. The actor described touching moments of his children making him tea and asking what he needs, noting that “there’s been a lot of beauty that’s come out of it.” At the same time, he emphasized his desire to spare others from this difficult journey, urging viewers to get screened for colorectal cancer.

The Dawson’s Creek community has rallied around Van Der Beek during this challenging time. His former castmates organized a live reading event to raise money for F Cancer, though unfortunately, Van Der Beek was unable to attend at the last minute due to illness. “This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,” he wrote on Instagram, expressing how “gutted” he felt about missing the reunion. Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to replace him—someone Van Der Beek jokingly described as “ridiculously overqualified” for the role. Though absent physically, Van Der Beek still connected with fans through a pre-recorded video message. What touched him most deeply, however, was how his family was received at the event. “My family got to go… and they got a standing ovation just for taking their seats,” he shared with visible emotion. “All that love that would’ve otherwise been directed at me was directed at my family. It was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever gotten to witness.”

Despite the gravity of what he calls an “extreme” diagnosis, Van Der Beek maintains an outlook filled with hope and gratitude. He sees his cancer experience as transformative rather than merely devastating. “I think it changes everything. It’ll change the way I live for the rest of my life,” he reflected during his Today show appearance. The actor has discovered unexpected gifts within his struggle, particularly a heightened sense of presence in everyday moments. “Presence, I think, is really the gift that cancer’s given me,” he explained, highlighting how the diagnosis has forced him to reevaluate priorities and appreciate life more deeply. His journey demonstrates the possibility of finding meaning and even positive change within life’s most difficult challenges—a perspective that has clearly resonated with his fans and followers who have supported him throughout this health battle.

Throughout his cancer journey, Van Der Beek has maintained remarkable transparency with his supporters while still protecting his family’s privacy. When he first revealed his diagnosis in November 2024, he did so thoughtfully, writing on Instagram: “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before. I’m in a good place and feeling strong.” This balance between openness and boundaries has allowed him to share his experience in ways that might help others while still giving himself space to process his own emotions. His willingness to discuss cancer screening and prevention could potentially save lives by encouraging early detection. As Van Der Beek continues to navigate his health journey, he does so with newfound strength, deeper connections to faith and family, and a transformed perspective on what truly matters in life—lessons that resonate far beyond his personal struggle with cancer.