Concern rippled through fandom when James Van Der Beek appeared noticeably thinner during the recent ‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion. The actor is now addressing those worries head-on.
Speaking on Today with Craig Melvin, the 48-year-old clarified that his sudden weight loss was not connected to his stage-3 colon cancer diagnosis, which he publicly shared last year. Instead, he explained that a series of stomach bugs sidelined him around the same time he had to miss a scheduled appearance due to conjunctivitis picked up from one of his children.
Van Der Beek, who joined the interview from his Texas ranch, admitted that ongoing treatment has made even minor illnesses harder to bounce back from. He described the experience as humbling, forcing him to slow down in ways he never had before.
Watch the interview:
Despite the challenges, the actor shared an unexpectedly hopeful outlook on his journey, calling cancer a catalyst for self-reflection and growth. As of now, he says he’s feeling significantly better than he did just months ago.