James Van Der Beek has been open about his battle with colorectal cancer ever since he announced his diagnosis in November 2024.
He recently revealed he would miss a Dawson’s Creek benefit reunion in his honor, so Life & Style is breaking down everything he’s said about his cancer journey so far.
“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,” Van Der Beek, 48, told People in November 2024. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Colorectal cancer begins “in the colon or the rectum,” according to the American Cancer Society. “These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.”
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One month after he revealed his diagnosis, Van Der Beek set out to spread awareness about cancer prevention and testing by joining stars including Anthony Anderson, Tyler Posey and Taye Diggs to participate in the fundraiser event The Real Full Monty.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation website, the event raised money for cancer charities and encouraged men to screen for different cancers.
Van Der Beek continued to open up about his health when he appeared on the Today Show in July 2025. “I’m feeling great. It’s been a journey. There are just so many ups and downs and so many unknowns,” he said at the time. “Cancer is – I call it a full-time job … It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
Additionally, he revealed that acting has been a great distraction for him amid his health battle. “The greatest thing about work is cancer doesn’t exist between action and cut,” he said at the time, referring to his role in the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series Elle. “It was fun to drop in and just have a blast because it’s such a great cast, a great production, and everybody out there is really talented.”
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Van Der Beek has also been open about how he’s broached the topic of his health with his and wife Kimberly Brook’s kids: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua and Jeremiah.
“I’m far from an expert, but our approach was just to be as honest as possible, as honest to the degree of their understanding, right? Because they know,” he said during his Today appearance. “[They] can sense that Dad’s having a tough day. They know if Dad’s in pain. They know, and so by not telling them, I think you’re confusing them even more.”
In August 2025, it was announced that the cast of Dawson’s Creek would reunite to participate in a live reading of the pilot episode in New York City on September 22.
The event was set up in honor of Van Der Beek and will serve as a fundraiser for F Cancer. Van Der Beek, who starred on the teen drama as Dawson Leery, was set to reunite with co-stars Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps for the reading.
However, he announced on September 21 that he would not be able to make it after falling ill.
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“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 … So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment,” he wrote via Instagram. “Despite every effort … I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.”
In light of his absence, Van Der Beek explained he found an understudy to take his place.
“A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me … Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient,” he wrote. “The role of ‘Dawson’, usually played by James Van Der Beek … Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda.”
After he said he “can’t believe I just got to type that,” Van Der Beek added, “Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family. I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin.”
“And thank you @lin_manuel. You were a hero to my kids before … now you’re a demigod,” he concluded.
