The actor revealed in 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer, and last year, he talked about the “hardest year” of his life.
Fans who attended a Dawson’s Creek reunion fundraiser at a New York theater on Monday, September 22, were surprised when James Van Der Beek, who has colorectal cancer, made a video appearance at the event. Credit: @misterdine via Storyful
“When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband… it was much better, and then I became a father… that was the ultimate,” he said to his 1.6 million followers on Instagram last year.
The father-of-six pointed out that during his cancer battle he was forced to “look my own mortality in the eye.”
FILE – James Van Der Beek at Prime Video’s “Overcompensating” premiere held at the Hollywood Palladium on May 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
“I had to come nose to nose with death,” he remarked. “And all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.”
“I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife,” Van Der Beek continued. “I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working.”
During his cancer journey, the actor admitted he began to question if he was “just a too-skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment with cancer… what am I?”
“I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist,” Van Der Beek shared. “And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?”
“As I move through this healing portal toward recovery,” Van Der Beek said, “I wanted to share that with you because that revelation that came to me was in no small part to all the prayers and the love that had been directed toward me.”
James Van Der Beek’s legacy
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Born on March 8, 1977, in Connecticut, Van Der Beek won the title role of Dawson Leery in WB’s “Dawson’s Creek.” The show’s 1998 debut was a success that helped to establish the network and its cast. The series ran for six seasons and was syndicated worldwide.
In 1999, he also starred in the teen football drama “Varsity Blues.” He won an MTV Movie Award for his role.
RELATED: James Van Der Beek makes surprise virtual appearance at ‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion
He made appearances in several other projects, including, “Ugly Betty,” “Criminal Minds,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “One Tree Hill.”
Van Der Beek also co-created, wrote, produced and starred in “What Would Diplo Do?,” in which he portrayed producer and DJ Diplo. The movie scored 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Griffin was sent home on “The Masked Singer” and revealed as a ’90s teen icon.
Van Der Beek joined the cast of the 28th season of “Dancing with the Stars,” and in 2025, he competed on Season 13 of “The Masked Singer.”
Van Der Beek married business consultant Kimberly Brook in 2010. The couple have six children together. He was previously married to actress Heather McComb until their separation in 2009.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. A Van Der Beek GoFundMe account was created to support the family.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press, previous FOX Local reporting contributed.
