James Van Der Beek, the beloved actor from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, has opened up about one of the most challenging chapters of his life—his recent battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. In a heartfelt video shared on Instagram, where he also celebrated his 48th birthday, Van Der Beek reflected on how his diagnosis has profoundly impacted his marriage, family, and sense of self. For someone who has spent much of his life defining himself by his career as an actor—a role he admitted never felt entirely fulfilling—the past year has forced him to confront deeper questions about identity, purpose, and love.
Before his diagnosis, Van Der Beek had found a sense of fulfillment in his roles as a husband and father. He described himself as a “capable, loving, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, and steward of the land” where his family lives. These roles, he said, gave him a clear answer to the question, “Who am I?” However, when doctors delivered the news of his cancer last year, everything shifted. The actor was forced to confront his own mortality, a experience he described as coming “nose to nose with death.” The treatment process, which required him to be away from his loved ones for long stretches, took a toll on his ability to be the husband and father he once was. He could no longer be the provider he felt he needed to be, as his health struggles kept him from working. This loss of identity was devastating, and it left him grappling with feelings of inadequacy and purposelessness.
The emotional weight of his cancer diagnosis and treatment was compounded by the strain it placed on his family. Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, have six children together—Olivia, 14; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 11; Emilia, 8; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 2—and being unable to be the present, capable father and husband he once was was a source of immense pain for him. There were moments when he felt he was losing himself in the process of fighting for his life, and he questioned whether he was still worthy of love and care, even as he struggled to care for himself and others. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, Van Der Beek found a profound realization: “I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist,” he said. “And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?”
This realization marked a turning point for Van Der Beek, as he began to release the burden of defining himself by what he could do or provide. Instead, he embraced the truth that his worth is inherent, not tied to his roles or achievements. This shift in perspective has been a source of strength for him, helping him navigate the uncertainties of his health journey. His wife, Kimberly, has also been a constant source of support and love. In her own Instagram post, she gushed about how much of a “treasure” she believes her husband is, despite the challenges they’ve faced. She celebrated his resilience, their life together, and the memories they’ve built over the years. “I feel like the luckiest lady in the world to be married to you,” she wrote, expressing her gratitude for their partnership and her hope for a future filled with laughter, connection, and healing.
The couple, who married in August 2010, has always been open about their journey as parents and partners, and this chapter has only deepened their bond. While the past year has been undeniably difficult, Van Der Beek’s reflections reveal a man who is finding peace and growth in the midst of struggle. He’s learning to let go of the need to control or define every aspect of his life and instead trusting in his worth, his family, and a higher power. This journey of self-discovery and healing is one he’s not walking alone, as Kimberly and their children remain his rock, reminding him of the love and light that surround him, even in the darkest times.
As Van Der Beek looks ahead to the future, he does so with a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. His 48th birthday marked not just another year of life but a celebration of resilience, love, and the beauty of being human. In his video, he invites his followers to reflect on their own journeys, encouraging them to embrace their own worth and the love that surrounds them. For Van Der Beek, this season of life has been anything but easy, but it has taught him the profound truth that true strength lies not in what we do but in who we are—and that the greatest gift we can give ourselves and those we love is the courage to embrace it all with an open heart.
