James Van Der Beek Dismissed His Awkward Bowel Movements As Just Diet Issues, Until It Revealed Something Much More Serious

James’s gastroenterologist gave him the shock of his life.

Jesse

• Published in News
• November 12, 2024

When James Van Der Beek’s name comes up, many fans recall his iconic role as Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek or his standout performance in Varsity Blues. With his boy-next-door charm and a career that has spanned decades, Van Der Beek seemed to embody a charmed life. 

Off-screen, he was every bit as dedicated as his characters—keeping fit, raising a beautiful family, and pursuing a mindful lifestyle. You could say he was the picture of health, the kind of person who seemed immune to the harsh twists life can throw.

However, this year, the actor has found himself in a real-life drama—one that tested his strength in a way no scripted show could. 

Van Der Beek wasn’t the type to preach wellness while nursing a secret fast-food habit. He walked the walk—literally, often with a few kids in tow. You could usually find him sharing moments while running trails or practicing yoga in serene backdrops.

Sadly, life has a way of throwing curveballs, even at those who seem best prepared for them. For Van Der Beek, this came in the form of an unexpected and daunting diagnosis.

It all started subtly. Last year, Van Der Beek noticed changes in his bowel movements and chalked it up to dietary issues. The last thing on his mind was cancer. It wasn’t in his family history, and like many, he associated it with aging or an unhealthy lifestyle. 

The Dawson’s Creek star breaks his silence on his cancer journey and the road to recovery.

Van Der Beek's first reaction was to blame his morning coffee. But after cutting out the coffee and tweaking his diet without seeing improvement, a nagging thought pushed him to schedule a colonoscopy. Little did he know that decision would lead to the most shocking revelation of his life. 

It’s been a tough road so far but he’s found some strength along the way

The results were a gut punch: stage 3 colorectal cancer. “I think I went into shock,” Van Der Beek recalled, speaking candidly in an interview with People magazine. Suddenly, his well-ordered life was upended by an avalanche of uncertainty and questions that offered no clear answers.

Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly are the proud parents of a lively crew of six

Since his diagnosis, Van Der Beek has been on a transformative journey. He’s determined to fight not just with treatment but with a newfound commitment to nutrition and mindfulness—which led to a total diet overhaul.

Gone are the processed foods, gluten, and dairy. In their place, organic vegetables from his garden and conscious, clean eating have taken root. The actor believes that reconnecting with real, unprocessed food is a step everyone should consider. 

Van Der Beek relocated his brood to Austin, Texas, embracing a new chapter in 2020

Despite the hurdles, his spirit remains remarkably resilient. He describes himself as “cautiously optimistic,” sharing that his energy levels are high and he’s in a healing phase. 

A nostalgic look back at the "Dawson’s Creek" Cast: James Van Der Beek and his co-stars

While he hasn’t gone into detail about his treatment regimen, he’s adamant that this fight has become a life lesson. “I really don't feel like this is going to end me,” he expressed. “I feel like this is going to be the biggest life redirect... something I’ll look back on and say, ‘Thank God that happened.’”

The actor suits up for The Real Full Monty, a powerful fox special aimed at raising awareness for cancer

For now, the actor continues to focus on his recovery and raising awareness about colorectal cancer. With upcoming projects like Sidelined: The QB and Me and a special appearance in The Real Full Monty, Van Der Beek is using his platform to inspire hope and encourage preventive health screenings.

Jesse