what happened to james vanderbeek

James Van Der Beek, known for his role in Dawson's Creek, has been battling stage III colorectal cancer since his diagnosis in August 2023, which he publicly revealed in November 2024. Despite initially feeling healthy and active, he started experiencing symptoms related to bowel movements that led to the diagnosis. He has been handling his illness privately with the support of his family. In September 2025, Van Der Beek was unable to attend a Dawson's Creek reunion charity event in person due to two simultaneous stomach viruses, but he made a surprise virtual appearance via a prerecorded message. At the event, he expressed gratitude to fans and fellow cast members and introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda as his understudy for the live reading. Van Der Beek remains optimistic and has returned to acting while also raising awareness about cancer prevention and testing. Overall, Van Der Beek is actively fighting colorectal cancer and sharing his journey publicly to help others and encourage cancer screening despite the challenges he faces.