By India McCarty
As people around the world mourn the loss of DAWSON’S CREEK star James Van Der Beek, many are looking back at how the actor’s strong faith and dedication to his family carried him through his cancer battle.
“I went into shock,” Van Der Beek said of his diagnosis in an interview with TODAY. The actor was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and ultimately succumbed to the disease on Feb. 11, 2026.
He continued, “But you know, one of the things I was really lucky about was, as soon as I heard the news, I thought, ‘This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me.’ I had this little voice in my head that said, ‘You’re going to make changes in your life that you would never, ever make if you didn’t have this extreme of a diagnosis, and it’s going to add healthy, happy years to your life.’”
Related: James Van Der Beek Dies at Age 48 After Cancer Battle
The actor shared that his cancer battle required “more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had” and praised his wife for stepping up “as a caretaker, as a nurse, as head of the household.”
“And my kids — as much as I want to shield them from them seeing me in any kind of pain…you realize that resilience is not only something they have and can build, but it’s the best thing for them,” Van Der Beek said.
The VARSITY BLUES star also spoke about how his health issues impacted his faith, saying, “What I realized is that I’m still worthy of love — my own love, God’s love.”
“The difference [in my faith] was, before cancer, God was something I tried to fit into my life as much as possible. After cancer, I feel a connection to God,” Van Der Beek explained. “It went from being a piece of my life, to the whole point of life.”
Van Der Beek made similar comments in a video he posted to social media, sharing his difficulties at adjusting to a life where he could no longer define himself as a husband, father, actor and provider.
“I meditated and the answer came through: I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you,” he said. “That revelation that came to me was in no small part due to the prayers and the love that had been directed towards me.”
Many of Van Der Beek’s friends have shared their own stories of his courage, kindness, and strong faith as they mourn this loss.
Andrew Erwin wrote on Instagram, “We lost a dear friend today in @vanderjames We hadn’t known each other long but became friends a few years ago just as he was starting this journey. James walked it with grace and strength. He had a wide open heart. And he asked great questions. Loved our convos about family, faith, and things that last. Praying for his wife and kiddos. James was one of the good ones. Rest in peace my friend.”
Please keep Van Der Beek’s family and friends in your prayers.
Read Next: What James Van Der Beek Learned About ‘Unconditional Love’ Through Cancer Battle
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