The wife of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek says he is ‘bouncing back’ a year after he announced he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Kimberly Van Der Beek made the comment on the star’s Instagram page after he uploaded a video of himself wearing a football jersey bearing the name of one of his most famous characters, in a bid to raise money for his ongoing treatment and to help others.
“By popular demand! My favourite jersey,” he wrote in the accompanying post, which showed him wearing the jersey emblazoned with the name ‘Moxon’ – his character in the 1999 film Varsity Blues.
Watch the video above.
”Maybe it was all fun plays we got run in the football sequences for the away games… but I always loved putting on the varsity whites,” he continued.
“Last year, when I released the Blues jersey, I was blown away by the love and support I received from all of you. It has meant more than I can ever express.
“I hope you enjoy this one as much as the original.
“Thank you – for the love, the prayers, the support, and for making this jersey mean something far bigger than a movie.”
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Van Der Beek said he was “endlessly grateful” to his fans for supporting his fundraising efforts.
He is selling a collection of signed and unsigned jerseys, with proceeds going “directly toward helping with treatment and supporting families walking the same path”.
In good news for Aussie fans, both the signed and unsigned jerseys can be purchased from here and sell for $126 (signed) and $63 (unsigned).
It comes after the star announced two weeks ago he would also be auctioning off precious mementos from his Dawson’s Creek days via Propstore’s Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, from December 5-7.
Van Der Beek looked noticeably happier and healthier during the latest video appearance.
It led his wife to write in the comments section, “You’re a wizard. Bouncing back baby!!”
The number four jersey Van Der Beek sported in the latest video is a nod to the one his Varsity Blues’ character, Jonathan ‘Mox’ Moxon, wore in the coming-of-age film set in a Texas high school.
At the time he filmed the movie, Van Der Beek was riding high from the success of the TV show Dawson’s Creek, which had aired for the first time the previous year and made him a star.
Years later, he and second wife Kimberly, whom he married in 2010, relocated from LA to Texas after he was drawn there in part due to his memories of making the film.
They live on a sprawling 14.6-hectare ranch near Austin with their six children.
Their life seemed picture perfect. Van Der Beek still worked as an actor while Kimberly, a former actress, was a podcaster.
Then in November 2024, Van Der Beek revealed he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer the previous August, at 46.
He said he had been dealing with the diagnosis privately and was forced to reveal it after a media outlet threatened to run the story.
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”What do you do when you are staring down a stage three diagnosis?” he said in an emotional interview with People at the time.
“This is either going to take me out of the body or teach me how to truly live in it.”
In July 2025, during an interview on the US Today show, he seemed to suggest his cancer was incurable.
“It’s a process,” he said. “I’ll probably be on a process for the rest of my life.”
He had been scheduled to attend a September 22 live script reading that could have reunited the cast of Dawson’s Creek while raising funds for the charity F Cancer, but had to pull out at the last minute.
Instead, he appeared via video link but his appearance worried fans.
Now, his latest appearance has thrilled fans, who rushed to offer their best wishes.
“You look so much better. God bless you,” wrote one.
“Love you man. I beat stage three colorectal [with] six months to live. 10 years ago. You will too,” wrote another.
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