What James Van Der Beek Said About His Cancer Battle Before His Death

When James Van Der Beek shared his 2023 diagnosis of stage 3 colorectal cancer, what struck me most was his incredible positivity. Even facing something so serious, he was determined to focus on the good and find a silver lining. It was truly inspiring to see.

He shared with Craig Melvin on Today that he initially felt shocked when he received the news, which aired on December 19th. However, he quickly realized it could be a turning point, saying he believed it would be the best thing to ever happen to him. He described an inner voice telling him this diagnosis would push him to make life changes he never would have considered otherwise.

James Van Der Beek, known from Dawson’s Creek, prioritized his well-being and family over acting. He stepped back from his career to focus on his health and to cherish time with his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children.

As he said at the time, “Presence is really the gift that cancer has given me.”

It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of Paul Van Der Beek’s passing. Many of us grew up watching his work, and it’s incredibly sad to learn he passed away on February 11th at just 48 years old. It’s a loss that’s particularly felt by those of us who loved his work on shows like those on WB.

His family shared on Instagram that he faced his final days with courage, faith, and dignity. They said he had important thoughts about how he wanted to be remembered, his care for others, and the value of time, and they plan to share those details later. Right now, they are asking for privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

I was really touched by how open he was. Even after sharing his diagnosis, he insisted he was doing okay – he actually wrote that he felt good and strong, which meant so much to his fans. But he didn’t sugarcoat things either; he was honest about how incredibly tough this illness really is. It was a brave and relatable way to handle everything, and I admired him for it.

Not just on his body, but on the whole concept of life as he knew it.

Turning 48 on March 8, 2025, he shared that the past year had been the most difficult of his life.

He shared in an Instagram video that he used to think of himself as an actor, but it didn’t bring him much satisfaction. Becoming a husband was an improvement, but becoming a father was the most fulfilling thing that happened to him. He finally felt he could define himself as a loving, strong, and supportive husband and father, and someone who takes care of his family and the land they live on.

The father said to his children – Olivia, who is 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and little Jeremiah, who is 4 – that’s how things used to be.

This year brought me face-to-face with my own mortality, and I experienced death up close. It took away everything I used to define myself by. While getting treatment, I couldn’t fulfill my roles as a helpful husband, a present father who could care for his children, or a working provider. Even simple tasks like caring for our land felt impossible at times, as I was often too weak to do things like prune the trees.

This left him wondering: if all he was was a thin, frail man, battling cancer by himself in his apartment, then what did that even mean? Who was he, really?

Van Der Beek explained that he found clarity through meditation. He realized he deserves love simply by existing, and if that’s true for God’s love, it should also be true for self-love and all love in general.

Such was the message of hope and positivity he continued to emulate.

Last summer, he felt healthy enough to film the Elle series, a prequel to Legally Blonde. However, fans noticed he didn’t look well when he appeared in a pre-recorded video at a Dawson’s Creek script reading in September. The event was organized to raise money for him and the charity F Cancer.

He was originally supposed to attend the event in New York with his Dawson’s Creek co-stars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams, but unfortunately, he had to cancel due to a stomach virus.

The actor, known for his role in Varsity Blues, later explained his significant weight loss was due to a virus, not cancer. He shared on Today that while he had been diagnosed with cancer, it wasn’t the primary cause of his weight loss, but rather the illness made the effects of the cancer worse.

“With cancer,” he quipped, “everything’s like, ‘Why don’t we supersize that stomach virus?’”

I was so glad to hear him sounding positive, but he did share that dealing with cancer has been a much longer and harder road than he ever imagined. It’s really put things in perspective, hearing him talk about it like that.

He said it demanded more from him than he expected – more patience, self-control, and inner strength. He always considered himself strong, but this experience revealed a level of strength he hadn’t realized he possessed.

James Van Der Beek’s latest Instagram post celebrated the birthdays of both his daughter, Annabel, who turned twelve on January 25th, and his father.

He wrote that he was amazed by how kind, gentle, and truly good they remained, despite everything. He called them incredible and said he was incredibly thankful to have them in his life, adding that they made the world a better place.

Though we’re all saddened by his passing, let’s celebrate the life and career of Van Der Beek through these photos.