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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayJames Van Der Beek Reflects on Coming "Nose to Nose" With Death Amid Cancer Battle
James Van Der Beek is happy to have fulfilled a dream amid his health journey.
Amid his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis, the Dawson's Creek alum competed on The Masked Singer, marking the first time he had sung in front of a large audience. After his elimination from the competition on the March 19 episode, Van Der Beek shared a positive update on his health battle.
"I'm in a healing portal," he told Extra's Billy Bush, speaking from his Texas ranch in an interview shared March 20. "I've done a bunch of stuff and I feel like I can see the finish line. It's not the first time I've felt that, but I'm in a healing phase, which is great."
Van Der Beek—who revealed in November that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer the previous August—made his debut as the Griffin on the March 5 episode of The Masked Singer, which was filmed months ago. The Varsity Blues star said he "appreciated the mask" in light of what he was going through.
"I just announced the health issues I was dealing with," added the 48-year-old, whose wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six kids Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, Jeremiah, 2, joined him onstage, "so to be able to put on the mask and connect with an audience without that being a part of the equation was actually a really beautiful thing."
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The Masked Singer is not the only onscreen project Van Der Beek has taken on since his diagnosis. In 2024, he filmed the Tubi original movie Sidelined: The QB and Me and he plans to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel that the streamer announced in February.
"I'm going back to work next month," he said. "I did that movie The QB and Me, where I played the dad, for Tubi, and it was such a huge hit, they're doing a sequel, so I get to go back. And the kids in it are just great. And as somebody who played a lot of like teenage romance melodrama in my youth, they're great, man. Noah Beck is just a sweet soul."
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And the 23-year-old, a TikToker who made his movie debut in the film as high school quarterback Drayton Lahey, is one of Van Der Beek's biggest cheerleaders.
"Dad…" he commented on the fellow actor's March 19 Instagram video of performance of Rihanna's "Disturbia" on The Masked Singer. "U CAN SING??!"
Van Der Beek responded, "@noahbeck I’m full of surprises, son."
All in all, the actor is thankful for all the support he’s gotten at this time in his life.
"It's been a really tough year,” he shared during his Masked Singer appearance, adding of his family, “but fortunately, we've been able to face this challenge together in our home. I would not have gotten through this without them. They make me smile on all the tough days and they're strong for me when I sometimes can't be."
For more celebs who’ve opened up about their cancer journeys, keep reading…
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Colin Egglesfield
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
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Gerry Turner
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”
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Jim Beaver
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
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Ariana Madix
"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"
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Marcia Cross
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram.
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Dustin Hoffman
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."
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Hugh Jackman
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."
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Camille Grammer
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
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Cobie Smulders
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
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Dr. Drew Pinsky
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
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Brooke Burke
The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."
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Angie Everhart
"MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf--kinhoo," the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.
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Christina Applegate
The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
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Michael C. Hall
The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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Michelle Monaghan
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Ewan McGregor
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Happy Hearts Fund
Sheryl Crow
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
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Michael Douglas
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."
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Edie Falco
The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.
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Anderson Cooper
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage
Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.
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Barry Watson
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!
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Maura Tierney
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
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Sharon Osbourne
The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival
Robert De Niro
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
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Robin Roberts
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
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Lance Armstrong
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
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Melissa Etheridge
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for LA Times
Julia Sweeney
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.
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Cynthia Nixon
The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear.
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