James Van Der Beek has directly addressed the significant weight loss that alarmed his fans several months ago, clarifying that a severe stomach virus – and not his ongoing cancer treatment – was the primary cause.
Addressing Fan Concerns Over Frail Appearance
The 48-year-old actor, who is publicly battling colon cancer, was forced to cancel an in-person appearance at a Dawson's Creek reunion event back in September due to a separate illness. He appeared virtually instead, but viewers were shocked by his noticeably thinner and frailer frame.
In an interview with Craig Melvin for NBC's Today show, which aired on Friday, Van Der Beek set the record straight. "I'd lost too much weight because of the stomach virus," he explained. He was keen to emphasise that this dramatic physical change was "not cancer-related," before adding a touch of his trademark humour about the seriousness of his diagnosis: "Although with cancer everything's like, 'Why don't we super size that stomach virus?'"
A Positive Outlook Amid Health Challenges
The father-of-six also shared an encouraging update on his fight against cancer, striking a resilient and philosophical tone. "I feel a little bit better every month," he revealed. "It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline. More strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong, I didn’t know I was this strong."
Craig Melvin teased the interview earlier in the week on Instagram with behind-the-scenes photos from Van Der Beek's Texas ranch. He captioned the post, describing the actor as "quite the ray of positivity" and calling their conversation "refreshing and inspiring." They discussed his health journey, the critical importance of cancer screenings, and how he finds joy in his family and faith.
Missed Reunion and Family Focus
The Dawson's Creek reunion in late September was a live reading of the pilot episode to benefit the charity F Cancer. While most of the original cast, including Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams, attended in person, Van Der Beek's absence was felt. Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to read his part.
In a pre-recorded video message played at the event, an emotional Van Der Beek expressed his disappointment at missing his castmates and thanked the fans for their support. "I can't believe I'm not there... I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here," he said.
Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, are parents to six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 4. His family remains a central source of strength and positivity as he continues his health battle.
