James Van Der Beek gave fans a reassuring glimpse into his life amid his Stage 3 cancer battle, putting on a fit and healthy appearance while playing football with his son at their sprawling Texas home.
The 48-year-old pleasantly surprised fans with a video of him donning a football jersey, followed by another clip of him tossing around the ball with his son in the backyard of their Austin home.
The videos, which were posted to Instagram, garnered much praise from fans who were overjoyed to see the “Dawson’s Creek” star getting back into his day-to-day routine while undergoing intensive treatment for Stage 3 colorectal cancer.
The first clip saw the actor revealing that he would be selling replicas of the jersey he wore in his 1999 film “Varsity Blues.”
In the caption, he revealed that funds will go to families who have a loved one battling cancer, noting that they will “go directly toward helping with treatment and supporting families walking the same path.
“Thank you—for the love, the prayers, the support, and for making this jersey mean something far bigger than a movie. Endlessly grateful for all of you.”
His wife, Kimberly, took to the comments section to show support for her spouse.
“You’re a wizard. Bouncing back, baby!!” she wrote.
Other fans branded him “amazing” and noted that they “love” seeing their favorite star look “well” and “strong.”
In the separate video, Van Der Beek tossed around the ball with his son, Joshua.
The clips come several months after he made a surprise virtual appearance at the “Dawson’s Creek” reunion, which he could not attend in person due to some “stomach viruses.”
However, he shocked fans when he joined the highly anticipated event in a prerecorded clip that was taped at his Texas home.
In the video, Van Der Beek—who played the titular role of Dawson in the hit show—thanked everyone for attending the event and said he wished he could be with them.
The virtual appearance came just one day after he took to Instagram to reveal that he had developed two different stomach viruses and was “gutted” that he would not be able to attend the event. However, he noted that there would be an “understudy” in his place.
A huge number of Van Der Beek’s former co-stars—including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps—reunited at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode.
But “despite every effort,” the actor noted that he was not fit enough to attend in person—before paying tribute to all of those who would be present at the event for supporting him during his cancer battle.
He also noted that his replacement would be none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda, who he joked is “someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me. … Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater, so that’s convenient.”
The “Dawson’s Creek” reunion came weeks after Van Der Beek admitted that treating his cancer has become a “full-time job,” while opening up about the many lifestyle changes he has made to battle the disease.
He first revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, while sharing a series of images of himself and his family at their Austin, TX, ranch, where he has been spending much of his time as he undergoes treatment.
The actor previously opened up about the one symptom of his colorectal cancer that he ignored, admitting that he initially attributed the physical change to his coffee routine.
The change in question? Minor irregularities in his bowel movements.
“There wasn’t any red flag or something glaring,” he told Healthline, admitting that he believed himself to be in tiptop physical health when he was diagnosed.
“I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had Stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea.”
At the time of his diagnosis, the actor—who left Hollywood and relocated to Texas in 2020—told People that he had been dealing with his diagnosis “privately” with the support of his loved ones, explaining that he was “feeling good” despite his health struggles.
Now, he’s lifted the lid on his cancer fight—while also recalling how he broke the news of his diagnosis to his wife, and their six children: Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 3.
Van Der Beek added that he’s come to accept that his cancer will likely be a part of his life for many years to come.
“I’m just on the journey,” he said. “It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
He revealed that making lifestyle changes to his diet and workout routine has become his “full-time” job.
The actor noted that he has been focusing on finding “the beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job.”
Van Der Beek then encouraged people to get screened, explaining that when he got screened at age 46, he didn’t know medical professionals had changed the recommended screening age to 45.
“I thought I was way ahead of the game. I ate as well as I could. I was healthy. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. There was no reason in my mind that I should have gotten a positive diagnosis,” he said.
Van Der Beek revealed that he has made multiple changes to his health and wellness routine since his diagnosis, including following a keto diet, doing yoga, and adopting a stretching regimen.
The actor’s diagnosis came 26 years after he first shot to fame while starring as the titular character in the hit series “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003. Van Der Beek went on to star in a variety of other series, including “Varsity Blues” and “CSI: Cyber.”
He played a fictionalized version of himself in the show “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23.”
While Van Der Beek’s Hollywood career has continued to flourish, the actor has turned his back on the traditional A-lister lifestyle, eschewing the trappings of Los Angeles fame in favor of a quieter life on a ranch in Texas.
The actor and his family moved to their Austin ranch in 2020 to find more “space” and a “connection to nature,” something that he wanted his six children to experience away from the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Their wooded property includes a main house, several cabins, a pool, and a backyard with views of the Pedernales River.
According to Realtor.com®, the 5,149-square-foot home that the Van Der Beeks are residing in features five bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The main house includes a commercial kitchen, balconies with sky and river views, an outdoor living space with a pool, and a tram to the river. The grounds include a barn perfect for throwing a party.
The waterfront residence is a place to “channel your ‘hippie cowboy,’” noted an old listing. At the time, Kimberly had mentioned that they had not yet purchased a property, but instead planned to lease first before deciding if they wanted to buy in the Lone Star State.