Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek, 47, reveals colorectal cancer diagnosis
Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has revealed he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
The actor, 47, said he has been “dealing with this diagnosis privately and has taken steps to resolve it with the support” of his incredible family.
“I have colorectal cancer,” he said People. “There is reason for optimism, and I feel good.”
Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, according to the American Cancer Society.
After his diagnosis, Van Der Beek, who shares six children with his wife Kimberly, continued to work.
Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek reveals he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer; seen in 2019
He recently appeared in an episode of Walker, and will next star in Sidelined: The QB and Me, out later this month.
In June, he and his family enjoyed a trip to visit the ancient Egyptian pyramids and temples.
At the time, he revealed on Instagram that he had taken a trip to see the remains of ancient Egyptian culture, including the iconic Pyramids of Giza, just outside Cairo, and the Dendera Temple complex, which is several hours away by car.
The actor, who moved from Los Angeles four years earlier to start a new life with his family in Texas, shared photos of his family sampling the stunning sights, and his caption illustrated how impressed he was by the monumental buildings.
He spoke of how “magical” the trip was at his post, admitting that he was “blown away by how deeply I felt the spiritual resonance of these temples.”
“#Egypt… With all my vocabulary, ‘Wow’ fell out of my mouth most of the time,” he began his post. ‘We were gifted a magical experience, an experience that I am still processing – and perhaps for the rest of my life.’
He praised his children – Olivia, 13; Joshua, 12; Annabel Lea, 10; Emilia, eight; Gwendolyn, six; and Jeremiah, two – for being “rock stars” on the great intercontinental voyage, writing that his “friends became brothers” on the trip.
“Despite all the traveling and crossing time zones and early morning alarms, I feel recharged,” he said.
The actor, 47, revealed that he has been “dealing with this diagnosis privately and taking steps to resolve it with the support” of his incredible family (seen with his wife and six children)
“I have colorectal cancer,” he told People. ‘There is reason for optimism, and I feel good’ (seen in 2023)
James added that he was shocked by the ‘spiritual’ experience he had around the structures, many of which originally had religious significance.
‘I expected a metaphysical element to the trip, but I was blown away [sic] how deeply I felt the spiritual resonance of all these temples,” he admitted. “I mean, they are ‘temples’ after all (duh), but whatever assumptions I had about these alien structures being ‘antiquities’ faded away as soon as I stepped into them.
“These were sacred places, built to connect with the divine, as they understood it at the time. “I left with reverence and awe – my eyes, heart and soul grew bigger,” he added. ‘Thank you to everyone who made this possible.’
James’ marriage to Kimberly is his second, after being married to actress Heather Ann McComb from 2003 to 2009.
Van Der Beek is best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the hit series Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003.
He and Kimberly married in Israel in August 2010, and just a month after the wedding they welcomed the first of their six children.
Previously, his wife suffered a pregnancy loss in November 2019 and another in June 2020.
