Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek has been battling Stage 3 colorectal cancer since 2023.
He was only 48 years old and didn’t share the news publicly until late 2024, as the disease and its treatment began to visibly affect his health.
Fans were happy to see the star looking healthier and with more weight in a recent New Year’s video, a noticeable improvement from his appearance in recent months.
That’s welcome news, but sources have now revealed to the Daily Mail that James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, are facing a new challenge as they raise their six children in Texas.
Van Der Beek’s frequent doctor’s visits and difficult medical treatments have made it hard for him to work as much as he used to, which has created financial difficulties for him and his family.
A friend told the Daily Mail they were puzzled by how he could appear so good on camera, considering he was constantly receiving injections.
The treatment leaves him exhausted, and he really needs to rest. He can’t maintain his public persona as an actor when he’s also a patient. However, if a work opportunity arises, he’ll take it, because cancer treatment is incredibly expensive. The high deductibles, copays, medications, and ongoing care create a significant financial burden for everyone involved.
Cancer treatment in the United States can be incredibly expensive, even for those with insurance. While details about Van Der Beek’s specific case aren’t public, typical treatments for colorectal cancer usually involve surgery, chemo, and radiation.
And it surely hasn’t helped that having six children is already an expensive undertaking.
My friend was telling me how expensive it is to raise a big family. He said the bills are overwhelming – everything from the house payment and car loans to groceries and health insurance adds up quickly. And then, on top of it all, there are unexpected medical expenses. It’s really stressful for him.
According to a friend, Van Der Beek deeply enjoys fatherhood and is dedicated to supporting his family, working hard to ensure they’re doing well.
To help cover his medical expenses, Van Der Beek has been selling items from his collection of Dawson’s Creek souvenirs.
According to a friend, he’s simply trying to make some extra money. He doesn’t feel bad about selling some of his old Hollywood memorabilia to cover his bills, and thankfully, he isn’t in a desperate financial situation as he does have some savings.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, James Van Der Beek made $47,000 in December by selling props and memorabilia from the TV show Dawson’s Creek.
The necklace Dawson Leery gave to Joey on the show recently sold for $26,628. Other items from Dawson’s bedroom, like an Indiana Jones model and an E.T. doll, went for $5,991 as a group, and a single chairback fetched $2,663.
The popular TV series about high school students ran from 1998 to 2003.
Van Der Beek explained to People magazine that he’d been holding onto these items for years, hoping to find the perfect moment to share them. Given everything happening in his life recently, he felt that moment had finally arrived.
He admitted to feeling a little nostalgic as he gave away items from his collection, but he was happy to share them with fans who had supported his career.
In January, Paul Walter Hauser, the Cobra Kai actor, publicly stated he was starting a fundraiser to help cover medical expenses for James Van Der Beek, though the two aren’t particularly close.
In a recent Instagram post, actor Hauser, 39, shared his discomfort with James Van Der Beek selling items from his acting career to help cover the costs of his colorectal cancer treatment. Hauser explained that, as an actor and father of three, he hopes to pass down his own career-related keepsakes to his children one day.
‘I wouldn’t want to auction off a Stingray shirt or Marvel script to make ends meet for treatment.’
Hauser is working with Cameo to help raise the funds.
Hauser asked people to share his message and help him reach his fundraising goal. He’s hoping to raise $20,000 by March 1st by creating personalized video messages through Cameo.
The actor announced he’ll be auctioning off some of his own personal items and autographs, as well as items from his famous friends like Josh Gad, Becky Lynch, and Jimmy Kimmel, with many more celebrities contributing as well.
Hauser explained that the aim is to keep supporting a colleague, father, and husband who has been through a very difficult time recently.
In March 2025, Van Der Beek shared a bit about his cancer battle.
He described facing death directly, saying it took away everything he thought defined him.
I felt like I was failing at everything. I couldn’t support my wife, be the dad my kids needed, or even take care of our property. Being out of work meant I couldn’t provide for my family, and sometimes I was just too weak to do even basic tasks.
But earlier this month, the actor shared he was looking forward to 2026.
He said he plans to spend the winter recovering and resting, and will make New Year’s resolutions in the spring. He then asked if anyone wanted to join him in this plan.
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2026-01-31 00:19