James Van Der Beek, finest recognized for taking part in Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, has been battling most cancers for at the very least a yr. When he skipped an in-person charity occasion along with his former co-stars from The WB sequence, followers have been involved about James’ well being.
“I’ve been trying ahead to this evening for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams mentioned she was placing it collectively,” James mentioned in a shock pre-recorded clip on the September 2025 Dawson’s Creek charity occasion in New York Metropolis. “I can’t consider I’m not there. I can’t consider I don’t get to see my castmates, my lovely solid in particular person. … And simply I wish to stand on that stage and thank each single particular person within the theater for being right here tonight. From the solid to the crew to everyone who’s doing something and has been so beneficiant, and particularly each single final certainly one of you – you’re the finest followers on this planet.”
Under, Hollywood Life has the rundown of James’ most cancers battle and present situation.
What Most cancers Does James Van Der Beek Have?
James resides with stage 3 colorectal most cancers, he revealed in November 2024.
“I’ve been privately coping with this analysis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the help of my unimaginable household,” he informed Individuals on the time. “There’s motive for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
The actor admitted he “all the time related most cancers with age and with unhealthy, sedentary life” however realized that isn’t all the time the case.
“However I used to be in superb cardiovascular form,” James identified. “I attempted to eat wholesome — or so far as I knew it on the time. … Then the gastroenterologist mentioned — in his most nice bedside method — that it was most cancers. I feel I went into shock.”
Is There a Remedy for Colorectal Most cancers?
Colorectal most cancers can with handled with surgical procedure, however it must be detected early. Such surgical procedures embrace a polypectomy to take away cancerous polyps, a partial colectomy to take away a piece of the colon, radiofrequency ablation — utilizing warmth to destroy cancerous cells — and chemotherapy, in response to the Cleveland Clinic.
How Is James Van Der Beek’s Sickness Now?
In July 2025, James mentioned in a Right now look that he was “feeling nice,” although it’s “been a journey.”
“There are simply so many ups and downs and so many unknowns,” the Varsity Blues star famous. “Most cancers is – I name it a full-time job … It’s a course of. It’ll in all probability be a course of for the remainder of my life.”
Two months later, James needed to skip an in-person Dawson’s Creek charity occasion on the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York Metropolis as a result of two abdomen viruses. Lin-Manuel Miranda was his understudy, and James’ spouse and kids have been within the viewers on his behalf.
Nonetheless, James shocked followers by showing nearly to thank followers and his Dawson’s Creek castmates.
“Thanks for coming. It’s simply completely humbling simply how a lot you probably did for this evening, and I simply wish to say thanks,” he mentioned. “Thanks to each single particular person right here.”



