A scheduled television appearance by actor James Van Der Beek was unexpectedly cancelled on Friday, but the reason was far from the serious health concerns many might have assumed.
Family First: A Common Childhood Illness Causes Cancellation
The Dawson's Creek alumnus was set to give an exclusive interview about his cancer journey on NBC's Today show on Friday, 6 December 2025. However, the actor did not attend. Later that day, Van Der Beek took to Instagram to explain the last-minute change of plans, sharing a photo with one of his daughters.
"Tell me you have kids without telling me you have kids," he wrote in the post's caption. "Having to postpone a @today show appearance because of pink eye." He apologised to the show and host Craig Melvin, adding that his "pink eye(s) almost cleared up" and that he would see them on 17 December instead.
Navigating a Serious Health Diagnosis
The actor's absence from the morning show comes as he continues to publicly share his experience with stage three colorectal cancer, which he was first diagnosed with in November 2024. He revealed the diagnosis in an interview with People magazine last year, stating he had been "privately dealing with this diagnosis" with his family's support and that he felt "reason for optimism."
Van Der Beek, best known for playing Dawson Leery, has used his platform to urge others to get screened for colorectal cancer, noting he had no warning signs before his own diagnosis. The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk begin regular screenings at age 45.
Looking Forward with Family Support
The father of six shares his children – Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 2 – with his wife, Kimberly. His family has been a cornerstone of his support system. Last month, Kimberly shared a promising update, commenting on a photo of her husband that he was "bouncing back."
This is not the first event the actor has missed due to health reasons; he was recently forced to pull out of a Dawson's Creek cast reunion for a live read-through, though he made a virtual appearance to thank fans. His last appearance on the Today show was in July 2025, where he described cancer as a "full-time job" but said he was "feeling great."
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a highly contagious but common and treatable eye condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For now, Van Der Beek's fans will look forward to his rescheduled interview on 17 December.
