James Van Der Beek is going public with his cancer diagnosis, making it clear that he’s feeling optimistic about his prospects and is navigating the disease with the help of his family.
In an exclusive statement given to People, Van Der Beek revealed that he has colorectal cancer, which begins in the colon or rectum and is often labeled as one diagnosis because the two have many symptoms in common. The actor didn’t disclose when he was diagnosed or how long he has been battling the disease, but he sounded very optimistic about his prospects. Van Der Beek said, “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Whether he knew about the diagnosis already or if it was the timing, Van Der Beek is doing his part to help those afflicted with the disease by participating in Fox’s The Real Full Monty, a two-hour special set for Dec. 9. It will feature the actor and other stars stripping down to spread awareness about different types of cancer. In addition to Van Der Beek, the special also stars Taye Diggs, Tyler Posey, Bruno Tonioli, Anthony Anderson, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. The event is taking its inspiration from the 1997 film, The Full Monty, which was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture.
James Van Der Beek Has Continued to Work Through His Cancer Diagnosis
Van Der Beek isn’t letting cancer slow him down on a professional basis. The actor appeared in an episode of The CW’s Walker this year, and he’s starring in the new Tubi movie Sidelined: The QB and Me, which is now in post-production and is set to debut on Nov. 29. The Dawson’s Creek actor is also a dedicated family man, sharing six children with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, a role he has prioritized more lately than working in Hollywood, for all the right reasons.
Related
Dawson’s Creek Almost Had a Very Different Ending Until Katie Holmes Stepped In
Katie Holmes insisted that the original ending as it was written for Dawson’s Creek be completely changed.
The actor is no stranger to being public about some aspects of his personal life if he thinks that being transparent will help others. He and his wife revealed in 2019 that she suffered a miscarriage a month after announcing her pregnancy. After their sixth child was born, the couple disclosed that they experienced two miscarriages at 17 weeks or later. Revealing the news humanized the couple in a way that is sometimes absent when it comes to certain celebrities. Despite their status, they go through the same hardships as anyone, and their struggles can make or break them, no matter how well-known they are. They chose not to let the miscarriages break them, but were careful about announcing the arrival of their sixth child because of going through the ordeal.
Van Der Beek is best known for portraying Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek for six seasons and 128 episodes from 1998-2003. The role made him a household name and led to film projects such as 1999’s Varsity Blues and 2002’s The Rules of Attraction. His other significant television credits include Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber and the Ryan Murphy FX series Pose. The actor also participated in the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars and finished in fifth place with his partner, Emma Slater.