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AFTER HE PASSED AWAY FROM A BATTLE WITH CANCER, JAMES VAN DER BEEK WAS JUST 48 YEARS OLD. JENNIFER JOINS US AND JENNIFER, HE WAS FIGHTING COLORECTAL CANCER. HE WAS A HEARTTHROB AND ICON OF 90S TELEVISION, STARRING IN THE TEEN DRAMA DAWSON’S CREEK FOR SIX SEASONS OVER JAMES VAN DER BEEK CAREER ULTIMATELY SPANNED 30 YEARS. TODAY, THE HUSBAND AND FATHER OF SIX GONE TOO SOON FOLLOWING A TRAGIC DIAGNOSIS THREE YEARS AGO. I WAS HONESTLY IN SHOCK. IN NOVEMBER 2024, VAN DER BEEK PUBLICLY SHARED HE HAD STAGE THREE COLORECTAL CANCER. TODAY, HIS WIFE ANNOUNCED HIS DEATH AT JUST 48 YEARS OLD, SAYING HE MET HIS FINAL DAYS WITH COURAGE, FAITH AND GRACE. COLORECTAL CANCER IN YOUNGER ADULTS IS A GRIM REALITY. WE’RE SEEING EVEN SOME TEENAGERS NOW. WE SEE LOTS OF 20 YEAR OLDS AND 30 YEAR OLDS, SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE ZERO REASON TO GET SCREENED. DOCTOR APARNA PARIKH WITH MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM SAYS IT’S BECOMING THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN MEN AND WOMEN UNDER 45. IF YOU’RE UNDER 45, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SYMPTOMS. KNOW IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER. WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE CHANGE IN BOWEL MOVEMENTS, BLOOD IN STOOL, ABDOMINAL PAIN AND IRON DEFICIENCY. DOCTOR BEN SCHLICHTER WITH DANA-FARBER SAYS AWARENESS AND SELF-ADVOCACY ARE KEY. YOUR BOWELS DON’T REALLY CHANGE MUCH THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. YOU SHOULD BE PREDICTABLE. EITHER YOU’RE REGULAR OR YOU’RE NOT. AND IF THAT’S CHANGING OVER SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT. THE RECOMMENDED AGE FOR COLON CANCER SCREENING IS NOW 45, MOVED UP FROM THE PREVIOUS RECOMMENDED AGE OF 50. WHAT I TELL EVERYONE IS THAT 45 GETS SCREENED. I THINK, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. GET SCREENED. VANDERBEEK LEAVES BEHIND A WIFE AND SIX CHILDREN. HE’S NOT THE ONLY YOUNG ACTOR TO DIE FROM THE DISEASE. IN 2020. BLACK PANTHER STAR CHADWICK BOSEMAN DIED AFTER A FOUR YEAR BATTLE WITH COLON CANCER, AND VANDERBEEK WAS A ADVOCATE FOR AWARENESS TO GET TESTED, WHETHER THAT’S A BLOOD TEST OR A COLONOSCOPY TO ENSURE THAT IT GE
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Alfonso Ribeiro shares emotional tribute to James Van Der Beek with their last photo together
Alfonso Ribeiro shared an emotional tribute to his friend James Van Der Beek, along with revealing he is the godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter, Gwendolyn.Riberio shared a lengthy tribute after Van Der Beek’s passing on Instagram saying, “I’m so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today. He was my true friend brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer. His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back. I’ve learned so much from james. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family. He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life. I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.” Riberio also shared a different photo of himself with Van Der Beek in his final days, saying, “This was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye. My last moment was making him laugh one last time. I really miss him already.”Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek” and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, died on Wednesday. He was 48.“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come,” a statement from the actor’s family that was posted on Instagram said. “For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”Van Der Beek revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Alfonso Ribeiro shared an emotional tribute to his friend James Van Der Beek, along with revealing he is the godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter, Gwendolyn.
Riberio shared a lengthy tribute after Van Der Beek’s passing on Instagram saying, “I’m so broken right now with the passing of my friend @vanderjames today. He was my true friend brother and life guide. I was with him through this horrible journey to beat cancer. His family and friends went on this roller coaster ride. The highs when it looked like he had it beat to the breaking lows of it coming back. I’ve learned so much from james. He and @vanderkimberly changed my life. I will forever be in debt for all they’ve given me and my family. He will live forever in my heart. I will always be there for their children. I will always hold my role as Gwen’s Goddie daddy as one of the most important roles of my life. I love you James and know I have a guardian angel watching over me. Being able to say goodbye this weekend will always live with me. RIP my brother. RIP.”
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Riberio also shared a different photo of himself with Van Der Beek in his final days, saying, “This was taken by @vanderkimberly just a few minutes before I said my last goodbye. My last moment was making him laugh one last time. I really miss him already.”
Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek” and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, died on Wednesday. He was 48.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come,” a statement from the actor’s family that was posted on Instagram said. “For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
Van Der Beek revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
