James Van Der Beek revealed that he's been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The 47-year-old actor issued a brief statement over the weekend that he has been "privately dealing" with the disease.
"I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family," Van Der Beek told People on Sunday. He added: "There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."
Though he continues to work, Van Der Beek also said that he's prioritizing time with his wife of 14 years, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
In December, he'll appear in The Real Full Monty, a two-hour Fox special inspired by the Oscar-nominated 1997 film, The Full Monty, featuring "a daring group of male celebrities" to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research. In addition to Van Der Beek, the special will also star Taye Diggs, musician Tyler Posey, Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli, and Anthony Anderson, who is executive producing.
The special will follow the six men as "they train and rehearse for the most revealing performance of their careers, culminating with a big strip-tease dance, choreographed by Emmy Award-winner Mandy Moore, where they will bare all in front of a live audience." The goal is to strip away, so to speak, the stigma around prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer. The celebrities will also share their personal stories about how cancer has impacted each of their lives.
Van Der Beek began acting as a teen in the '90s, most famously appearing in the WB teen drama Dawson's Creek, as well as the ABC comedy Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and films including Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, and The Rules of Attraction.
The Real Full Monty will premiere on Fox on Dec. 9, 2024.
