James Van Der Beek moved his fans to tears after sharing how he navigated one of the most difficult conversations a parent can face—telling his children he has cancer.
The 48-year-old Dawson’s Creek star appeared on the Today show yesterday (July 30), where he recounted informing his six children of his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis . Van Der Beek first revealed his condition publicly in November 2024, months after initially receiving the news himself.
- James Van Der Beek shared how he navigated the difficult conversation of informing his children of his cancer diagnosis.
- He urged parents to be truthful with their kids during tough times, emphasizing that children can intuitively tell when something’s wrong.
- Eight months into treatment, the actor remains optimistic and stressed the importance of early cancer screening to the public.
“I’m far from an expert, but our approach was just to be as honest as possible—honest to the degree of their understanding, right?” he explained.
“Because they know. They know Dad’s in pain .”
Actor James Van Der Beek shared how he navigated the difficult task of informing his children of his cancer diagnosis
James Van Der Beek in a maroon suit, posing against a yellow backdrop during his cancer journey with difficult moments with kids.
The actor shares daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 6, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 2, with his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek.
The actor admitted that one of the hardest parts was letting go of the instinct to protect by omission—because his kids already felt it. “So by not telling them, I think you’re confusing them even more,” he said.
James Van Der Beek in a gray shirt sharing about a difficult moment with kids during his cancer journey in an interview setting
He then urged other parents in similar trenches to lean into that uncomfortable trust, warning them that hiding the truth from children in the name of shielding them only distorts what they’re already sensing .
“When you tell them what you’re doing, and you tell them the approach, they can see it and they can feel it,” he continued. “Your journey is their journey.”
James Van Der Beek with his family outdoors, sharing a heartfelt moment during his cancer journey and parenting challenges.
What surprised him most was how quickly they showed up. The children didn’t recoil or retreat; they moved toward him in small, tangible, and heartwarming ways.
“I have kids making me tea. ‘Dad, what do you need?’” he said.
“There’s been a lot of beauty that’s come out of it,” he added, even as he made clear the price of the experience.
The actor said the diagnosis caught him by surprise, as he was in great shape and had no family history of cancer
Comment text expressing support for James Van Der Beek during difficult cancer journey with his kids.
Text message from Sarah Abbott sharing her experience with stage 3 colon cancer and the importance of colonoscopy in saving lives.
The actor first disclosed his diagnosis last year in an exclusive interview with People Magazine , where he reflected on the moment doctors delivered the news. He had no family history of cancer and believed his healthy lifestyle would have kept him in the clear.
James Van Der Beek with his kids, sharing a difficult moment during his cancer journey outside in casual wear.
“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,” he told the outlet in November 2024. “But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy—or as far as I knew at the time.”
James Van Der Beek and a woman close together outdoors, reflecting on his difficult moment with kids during cancer journey.
Hearing the diagnosis for the first time, he admitted, was like being hit with a tidal wave. “I went into shock,” Van Der Beek said.
He also described the overwhelming mental toll the illness had taken. “The trickiest thing is there are so many unknowns with cancer,” he explained. “You think, ‘How do I fix this? Is this healing me? Is this hurting me? Is this working? Is it coming back?’”
“As someone who likes answers,” he added, “not knowing is one of the hardest things.”
Van Der Beek took the chance to remind audiences not to underestimate the illness and to get screened on time
View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames)
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