James Van Der Beek said being diagnosed with cancer was “the best thing that ever happened to me” because it gave him a new outlook on life.
Two months before his tragic death at age 48, in the “Dawson’s Creek” alum’s final interview, he spoke to the “Today” show’s Craig Melvin about his positive mindset shift.
Van der Beek recalled hearing “a little voice in my head” when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023.
“[It]said, ‘You’re going to make changes in your life that you would never have made if you hadn’t had such an extreme diagnosis. And it’s going to add healthy, happy years to your life,'” the actor recalled in a roundtable discussion in December 2025.
“I don’t think I understood what it meant to slow down before,” Van der Beek said. “I don’t think I knew what it meant to really look at everything I eat and everything I put in my body.”
As for his “biggest change,” the “Pose” alum said cancer led to his subsequent “journey of self-love.”
He told viewers, “Before cancer, I think I was capturing all these little beautiful moments as part of a collective. I was aware of everything, and now I’m able to just be present in that exact moment. So presence is really a gift that cancer has given me.”
During the chat, the Varsity Blues star told viewers he was feeling “strong,” “good” and “better than I was a few months ago.”
He added: “It’s been a longer journey than I ever expected. It’s required more patience, more discipline, more strength from me than I ever expected.”
Last month, James’ wife Kimberly Van Der Beek posted on Instagram that her husband was “bouncing back.”
By January, James expected winter to be a time of “rest” and “recovery” and was looking forward to making resolutions in the spring.
But Kimberly confirmed her partner’s death in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” the 43-year-old wrote. “There is much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time.”
She promised, “That day will come. I am currently seeking peace and privacy as I grieve for my beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
James leaves behind six children with his longtime wife: Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabelle, 12, Emilia, eight, Gwendolyn, six, and Jeremiah, three.
