“Dawson’s Creek” alum James Van Der Beek got emotional talking about his cancer battle as he praised his wife for her amazing support after he recently revealed the stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis he received in August 2023.
During his appearance on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, the 47-year-old actor said physically he’s great and feeling good, but emotionally, “it’s a lot. It’s really a ride.”
“I was honestly in shock … I had a whole agenda for what I thought my year would be and what I thought my priorities would be … the reality that all of that was going to change and take a different trajectory — it felt like a nightmare honestly at first that I couldn’t quite wake up from,” Van Der Beek said, but admitted he’s since seen there’s a reason for this.
“As soon as I got diagnosed, I knew this is going to add many happy years to my life,” he added.
“I’m going to make changes that I never would have made otherwise, that I’m gonna look back on in thirty years and say, ‘Thank God this happened.’ So what can I do right now in order to make that the case. And that’s how I was about 90% of the time. I would say that about 10% of the time I was a sobbing, terrified mess.”
James Van Der Beek Tears Up Sharing Health Update After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Emotionally, It’s a Lot’ https://t.co/wfCB0ue3sT
— People (@people) December 3, 2024
The actor then credited his wife Kimberley for being his rock through the last year as he got choked up talking about her.
“She’s been amazing,” Van Der Beek said. “She’s really taught me what unconditional love is.”
“I’m someone who has always in the past tried to do everything for everybody and never asked for help myself and this has put me in a position of having to ask for help, but having to receive help,” he added. “And the beautiful blessing of that has been seeing how many people in my life have shown up.”
CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Earlier this month, the “Varsity Blues” actor spoke with People magazine after news surfaced of his cancer diagnosis.
“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” Van Der Beek told the outlet.
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he added.
The actor previously made headlines when he gushed about the decision they made to move their family out of Los Angeles for Texas. James and Kimberley share six kids: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah.
“I know for me, it’s been really centering and I feel like for the kids, it’s been grounding, and a different kind of education that we never could have offered them in a classroom,” Van Der Beek said.
“Just the things that we’re all aware of, like what phase the moon is in because we come out, we look at it,” he added. “I feel like we have a relationship with these natural cycles that are happening.”