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James Van Der Beek Says Cancer Was "Best Thing That Ever Happened" to Him in Health Update
The simple act of loving James Van Der Beek was enough.
After the Dawson's Creek alum died at the age of 48 following a battle with colon cancer, several of his friends, former colleagues and loved ones expressed their heartbreak over his passing.
Among them was fellow '90s star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who wrote to James' loved ones, "I’m so sad for your beautiful family. While James legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F--k Cancer."
Dancing With the Stars' host Alfonso Ribeiro shared he and his good friend had a final moment together.
"I am broken," he wrote on Instagram. "So happy to have him in my life. Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye."
James—who shared kids Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4, with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek—"passed peacefully" Feb. 11, his family wrote on Instagram.
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," the message continued. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Instagram/James Van Der Beek
Since being diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in Nov. 2024, James had been candid about his health journey and how it impacted his life.
"As soon as I heard the news, I thought, 'This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me,'" James told Today co-host Craig Melvin in Dec. 2025. "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.'"
But more than the lifestyle changes, it was the life lessons the Varsity Blues alum learned along
the way that mattered most.
Marc Kayne/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
"Really, the biggest change would be this journey of self-love," he reflected. "What I realized was, I'm still worthy of love."
He also learned to slow down and enjoy the moment.
"Presence is really the gift that cancer has given me," James explained. "Before cancer, I took all these little beautiful moments as part of a collection. I was just aware of everything. Now, I'm able much more to just settle into that exact moment."
For more celebs who have paid tribute to the beloved actor, read on.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Chad Michael Murray
"Sending love and light to your beautiful family," the One Tree Hill alum wrote. "James was a giant. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys.”
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Hilaria Baldwin
She shared her love in the comments, writing, "Sending so much love. I’m so sorry."
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
Rumer Willis
"My dear wonderful friends I love you all, I am keeping you all in my heart," she wrote in the comments of the psot announcing James' passing. "Im so lucky to have had you in my life for so long. James set the bar as a husband and a father and big brother (to me) I am so grateful to have witnessed your love and respect and care for each other."
She added, "Sending all the love and light to you all."
Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images
Alfonso Ribeiro
"I am broken," the DWTS host wrote on Instagram. "So happy to have him in my life. Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye."
Jason Mendez/Getty Images
Sarah Michelle Gellar
"I’m so sad for your beautiful family," she wrote on Instagram. "While James legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. Fuck Cancer."
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