James Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023. Despite his diagnosis, he has continued to work on various projects and has been open about his cancer journey, emphasizing the importance of rest and early detection. In September 2025, he was scheduled to attend a "Dawson's Creek" reunion charity event but had to withdraw at the last minute due to contracting two stomach viruses. He made a surprise virtual appearance at the event, thanking fans and introducing Lin-Manuel Miranda as his replacement for the live reading of the show's pilot episode. Van Der Beek has been candid about the challenges of his illness, including confronting his mortality and the impact on his family life, but he remains focused on recovery and advocacy for cancer awareness.