'Dawson's Creek' Star James Van Der Beek, 47, Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

James Van Der Beek has revealed a major health diagnosis.

The Dawson’s Creek star told People for an article that published on Sunday, Nov. 3, that he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The 47-year-old actor has “been privately dealing with this diagnosis” and “taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he told the magazine.

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Though Van Der Beek did not disclose when exactly he was diagnosed, he said there is “reason for optimism” and added, “I’m feeling good.”

Colorectal cancer can start in the colon or rectum, both essential parts of the human digestive system, according to a description published on the American Cancer Society’s website. Both men and women can get this type of cancer, with the organization estimating that there have been 106,590 new colon cancer diagnoses and about 46,220 rectal cancer diagnoses in the U.S. in 2024 alone. The organization further estimated that men on average have a 1 in 23 chance of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in life, while the chances are estimated to be 1 in 25 for women.

Despite his diagnosis, Van Der Beek has remained active at work and on social media, frequently sharing photos of his wife, Kimberly, and their six kids on Instagram. The two share daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, and Gwendolyn, 6, and sons Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah, 3. He most recently posted photos from their Halloween celebrations on the picture-sharing platform as he reflected on his childhood love of making his own costumes, joking that the passion "Should probably have been the first warning sign to my parents that I would end up an actor 😂.”

The Don’t Trust the B——- in Apartment 23 star also posted a sweet tribute to his son Jeremiah on Instagram last month while marveling at how his youngest child had already turned 3.

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