‘Dawson’s Creek’ star James Van Der Beek provides health update amid cancer battle: “I feel much, much better”
Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek has issued a positive health update as he continues to fight cancer.
Van Der Beek, who starred in the hit series that ran for six seasons alongside Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his battle public in late 2024.
Now, in a new interview with TODAY, Van Der Beek has reassured fans that he remains committed to his craft and insisted he is doing well despite his diagnosis, stating his current position as “really fortunate in an unfortunate diagnosis”.
Notably, Van Der Beek was only available to appear virtually in September at a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September that saw the cast come together for a read-through of the pilot episode. However, in this new interview, he confirmed this was due to him being “hit with some stomach bugs” rather than anything cancer-related.
“I feel much, much better than I did a couple months ago,” he positively added. The actor continued, “It’s been a longer journey than I ever thought it would be. It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had.”
Van Der Beek proudly added of the resilience he has shown during these testing times, “I knew I was strong. I didn’t know I was this strong. But I feel good.”
While he didn’t go into the specifics of his treatments, the American actor said that he is “trying a bunch of stuff”. He also urged people to get tested, pleading, “If anybody takes anything away from this interview, it would be get tested, talk to your doctor.”
Last month, Van Der Beek announced he was auctioning off memorabilia from his career, including the outfit he wore for the pilot episode of Dawson’s Creek and the cleats and hat he wore in the 1999 movie, Varsity Blues.
At the time, he said his decision was due to “all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently”.
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