James Van Der Beek Gives Life Update Amid Cancer Journey: ‘I Was So Emotionally Lit Up’ originally appeared on Parade.
Actor James Van Der Beek has been so open, honest, and vulnerable about his journey with colorectal cancer after revealing the diagnosis publicly in 2024. He’s remained positive, hopeful, and filled with gratitude for each day, even saying that his health struggle reignited his passion for acting.
In a recent exclusive interview with Parade, Van Der Beek explained, “I really let go of any attachments that I had to what it means to be an actor, or what my own version of success is or felt like or needs to be. And I just really felt like, ‘Oh, I could walk away from this.’ And then when I got cancer and I looked around at the world and where my place is in it and wanting to stay in it, I realized I love to tell stories. I really am so grateful for this opportunity to write and to act.”
In addition to acting, he also has another passion that many people might not know about — singing — (unless you watched him on The Masked Singer). In a new TikTok video shared on August 8, Van Der Beek gave a life update after “having a revelation and wanting to share it” during his trip to New York City.
He said, “Today, I’m in New York City, and I got to sing… And I got to be in that flow of creativity with somebody else playing the piano, and I was so emotionally lit up, I was overcome… I almost started to cry.”
Van Der Beek continued, “It just occurred to me, how many of us are running around, trying to accomplish goals that were set by reactive, younger, less wise versions of ourselves? And how much happier would we be if we could just erase those outdated goals… Forgive ourselves for not meeting that bar, and just go to something that lights us up?”
He went on to admit, “I was singing today, and I was not in pain for the first time in like four days. It’s been a rough week, I’ll be honest with you, but that passion cured it.”
People who watched the clip were so touched by his inspirational words, with one commenting, “I absolutely love how you verbalize what should be. There is so much that goes into it. And I understand it, that’s why I love how you see reality through such a different lens. Life is so complex. And should be taken so seriously but yet so literally. Love this. ✌🏻❤️”
Related: James Van Der Beek Opens Up About How His Kids Are Handling His Cancer Diagnosis
James Van Der Beek Is Spreading Awareness About Colorectal Cancer
Amid his health battle, Van Der Beek is also using his voice to help raise awareness about colorectal cancer. He’s teamed up with Guardant Health, which offers a simple blood draw screening for the condition.
He’s urging people to get screened regularly and told Parade, “One of the things I really want to get across to people is that you don’t need symptoms to start getting screened. Put it on your radar, talk to your doctor. At the time that I got diagnosed, I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I was doing sauna, cold plunge, working out, all the things and I had full-blown stage three cancer and didn’t know it.”
It’s clear that he wants to educate as many people as possible about the importance of making their health a priority, which is yet another reason all of the fans who’ve adored him since his Dawson’s Creek days continue to be inspired by him.
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James Van Der Beek Gives Life Update Amid Cancer Journey: ‘I Was So Emotionally Lit Up’ first appeared on Parade on Aug 9, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
