James Van Der Beek has consistently faced life’s challenges with courage and adaptability. From supporting his wife through a life-threatening ordeal to uprooting his family for a fresh start on a ranch, he has always prioritized their well-being. Now, the “Dawson’s Creek” star confronts a new challenge: a health battle that has redefined his perspective.
Recently, James Van Der Beek revealed he has been quietly dealing with a cancer diagnosis. He had hoped to share this news on his own terms, but an unexpected event made him open up sooner.
Throughout his life, the actor has faced many challenges with his family by his side. This latest news shows his strength in handling both public and private struggles, highlighting his journey of resilience and healing.
Details on James Van Der Beek’s Diagnosis
The actor recently disclosed that he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a revelation he shared in a raw Instagram post. He admitted that this news was something he had planned to reveal on his own terms through a feature with People magazine, aiming to raise awareness and share his story in depth.
However, those plans shifted when he learned that a tabloid intended to release the information ahead of his schedule, compelling him to speak up earlier than he had hoped. “It is cancer…” James began, expressing the difficulty of navigating how and when to share such personal news.
He explained that he has been undergoing treatment and focusing intently on his overall health, making lifestyle adjustments to support his recovery. “I’m in a good place and feeling strong,” he reassured his followers, acknowledging the challenges while emphasizing his positive outlook.
James also shared his gratitude for the support of his loved ones and the lessons this ordeal has taught him about adapting to unforeseen circumstances.
He noted, “Nothing about this process has occurred on my preferred timeline… But we roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention.”
Despite the weight of his recent diagnosis, James continues to cherish the moments that bring light into his life, especially those shared with his family. Earlier this year, he marked an important family milestone: the 10th birthday of his third child, Annabel.
Finding Joy Amidst Challenges: Celebrating His Third Child’s 10th Birthday
Amid life’s challenges, James has continued to find joy and solace in his role as a father to six children. To mark Annabel’s 10th birthday, James shared a touching video featuring moments that captured Annabel’s growth and spirit.
In a touching message accompanying the clip, he wrote, “Ten years old today. The second we got to meet you, I knew we were in for an adventure… it’s the purity of your heart at which I marvel.”
He expressed admiration for Annabel’s sincerity and bravery, noting how her honesty and kindness set the tone for their family. “Keep it coming, kid… I’m here for all of it,” he added.
Meanwhile, James’s spouse Kimberly also paid tribute to their second oldest daughter on social media. “Annabel, our third, our heaven, turned double digits,” she penned. Her post was filled with family photos that showcased their bond and the happiness they share.
The family of eight lives on a country ranch after deciding to leave their Los Angeles home. Their lives are now different after all they have been through.
James, after Becoming a Dad of 5
James and Kimberly first met in Israel and tied the knot there. When asked during a joint interview why they love the place so much, Kimberly said, “It’s where we met; it’s where we fell in love.”
While James answered, “It’s a pretty magical place. There’s an energy, a vibration that transcends any one religion or ideology. You can feel it.”
Film producer Kimberly Brook and her actor husband James Van Der Beek attend Express Yourself 2015 at Barker Hangar on November 15, 2015 in Santa Monica, California ┃Source: Getty Images
The couple walked down the aisle in 2010 and later welcomed five children, son Joshua and daughters Olivia, Annabel, Gwendolyn, and Emilia. In December 2020, James talked about how fatherhood has impacted his life, adding that growing their family has “rapidly expanded our ranks.”
He explained, “I think fatherhood changes you from the inside out. It’s not this thing where you think, ‘Oh, I have to be responsible; I have to take more on.’ You just want to, almost automatically.”
He and his wife settled at their Beverly Hills house after getting married. The newlyweds had such a busy life that they did not manage to design their new home.
“We never had the time to focus on designing the house properly before. We just kept having kids and working. Our home was a crazy jumble of pieces from different places we’d lived in before,” they shared.
Kimberly’s “Life Was on the Line” after Five Miscarriages
Having five children did not come easy for James and his wife. Kimberly suffered multiple miscarriages before, and as a result, she almost lost her life, the film producer revealed in May 2021, “I’ve had five miscarriages in total, but the last two were significant in that they hospitalized me. Those were incredibly difficult, emotionally and physically.”
Kimberly believed she was going to die and revealed what she remembered was a blur because she was unconscious most of the time. However, she recalled her loving husband being there by her side and being her pillar of strength.
She then credited doctors for using emergency blood transfusions to save her life twice, “My life was on the line. What saved my life was blood transfusions, people who donated blood.”
Meanwhile, James shared that during that ordeal, he kept thinking that he and his wife needed to “take care of each other.”
As he witnessed the mother of his kids going through that traumatic experience, he went through “shock, absolute dread, disbelief and then helplessness, accompanied by fear.”
Moving to Texas Ranch to Heal
After Kimberly’s life got saved, she needed healing, and her dream had always been to live in the countryside. That said, she and her husband uprooted their family to Austin, Texas, where they now reside on a 36-acre property in Hill Country.
“Texas has the capacity to heal. It’s expansive, and nature will hug you and heal you,” she said. She added her daunting experience was more of a push to start a new life in a different state.
But more importantly, the decision to relocate “came from desire, it came from my dreams.” In addition, Kimberly adores the countryside, “I’m a farm girl at heart who had never lived out her dream. Nature was calling. I wanted to be immersed in nature.”
Kimberly shared that life is different in Texas compared to the city. Whenever she is not feeling well, a neighbor makes her something to eat, and whenever someone moves, friends in the community offer to use their vehicles to help out. “It’s that hands-on village lifestyle that I’ve been craving so long,” she admitted.
Kimberly and James moved to Austin in October 2020. She gave her Instagram followers a glimpse into their new life by posting pictures of the surrounding environment, including the kids playing in the fields and pet dogs standing on rocks and the trees during sunset.
The doting mom wrote they had a lot of work to do in terms of unpacking their belongings and added, “Moving to the country is a dream I’ve had for years.”
In May 2021, she and James gave an update about the family’s new life since moving to Texas and said it had done wonders for them, adding the children also love their new home. “It’s the deepest breath. And the kids love Texas. Moving here helps spread them out and become self-sufficient because nature becomes their play toy,” Kimberley stated.
Meanwhile, the family patriarch revealed his loved ones had found happiness in their new place and had finally healed from their past traumas. “We’re happy here. It’s very healing,” said James.
Surprising Sixth Baby’s Birth
After all the Van Der Beek Family has been through, they welcomed a baby boy in 2021 in their new country home. James announced the exciting news on Instagram with a video of one of their daughters holding the newborn, including several other photos of the couple’s other kids doing the same, the duo too.
The proud father revealed on his social media upload that the new addition to the family’s name is Jeremiah Van Der Beek.
The Connecticut native explained that because his wife previously suffered two pregnancy losses, both of which were “at 17+ weeks,” they decided to keep this pregnancy under wraps. He admitted that he was “terrified” once he learned that Kimberly was expecting another child.
A weakened cervix caused Kimberly’s last two miscarriages, said James. To resolve the issue, she had a “simple surgical cerclage done and removed at full-term.” James disclosed his beautiful spouse gave birth to their sixth child on their property naturally.
The “Varsity Blues” star gave fans a glimpse of his son by posting photos of the father-and-son duo outdoors. James then explained that he and Kimberly were not trying for a baby.
“We were done. But fortunately, this chunky little angel knew better,” he penned. He expressed thankfulness for the surprise of a new life.
The Van Der Beek family’s journey has been filled with love, perseverance, and unwavering support for each other. As James navigates his cancer diagnosis, we wish him strength and a full recovery. May their family continue to find joy as they face each day together.
