James Van Der Beek recently revealed his diagnosis with colorectal cancer. The 47-year-old Dawson’s Creek actor remains optimistic, sharing with fans, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” RadarOnline.com reports.
Colorectal cancer originates from growths in the inner lining of the colon, with symptoms including blood in stool, bowel habit changes, abdominal pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and fatigue. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, over 90% of patients treated for early-stage colorectal cancer survive at least five years. Surgery is the primary treatment.
Van Der Beek gained fame as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003), starring alongside Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and others. A father of six, he has appeared in recent series like CSI: Cyber, Modern Family, and Pose and placed fifth on Dancing with the Stars in 2019.
His upcoming appearance on The Real Full Monty in December aims to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer. Inspired by the Oscar-nominated film The Full Monty, the show features male celebrities, including Taye Diggs, Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones, and Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli, shedding their clothes for a good cause. The special is executive produced by Anthony Anderson.
Throughout his health journey, Van Der Beek has prioritized family time with his wife Kimberly and their six children—Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. In June, he shared highlights of a family trip to Egypt on Instagram, where they explored the pyramids and rode camels. Reflecting on the experience, he wrote, “#Egypt… With all my vocabulary, ‘Wow’ is what fell out of my mouth most of the time. We were gifted a magical experience, one I’m still processing—and might be for the rest of my life.” He described feeling “recharged” from the adventure.
