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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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Joshua Jackson opens up about James Van Der Beek’s death
Joshua Jackson has opened up about the death of James Van Der Beek, his “Dawson’s Creek” co-star. Joshua Jackson and James Van Der Beek were long-time friends and co-stars on the drama show “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003.Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11, after a battle with colorectal cancer.In an interview with TODAY, Jackson said, “I think it hits in a variety of different ways. For me, as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing.”“He and I shared this very amazing time … and it was formational for us,” Jackson continued. “I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.”Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024 and Jackson said it was important to get frequent checks and treatment.”Guys don’t like to talk about this. We don’t like to go to the doctor, we don’t like to deal with this stuff. And I know a lot of ways in your life, like that stiff upper lip thing can be helpful, but in this it’s not helpful at all,” he said in his interview.Finally, Jackson added that Van Der Beek was a good man and was always there for his loved ones. “He became what we used to just call a good man, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father.”
Joshua Jackson has opened up about the death of James Van Der Beek, his “Dawson’s Creek” co-star.
Joshua Jackson and James Van Der Beek were long-time friends and co-stars on the drama show “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003.
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Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11, after a battle with colorectal cancer.
In an interview with TODAY, Jackson said, “I think it hits in a variety of different ways. For me, as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing.”
“He and I shared this very amazing time … and it was formational for us,” Jackson continued. “I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.”
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2024 and Jackson said it was important to get frequent checks and treatment.
“Guys don’t like to talk about this. We don’t like to go to the doctor, we don’t like to deal with this stuff. And I know a lot of ways in your life, like that stiff upper lip thing can be helpful, but in this it’s not helpful at all,” he said in his interview.
Finally, Jackson added that Van Der Beek was a good man and was always there for his loved ones.
“He became what we used to just call a good man, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father.”
