James Van Der Beek was compelled to overlook a deliberate look on the In the present day present — however there was motive behind his absence.
The actor, 48, took to his Instagram Story on Friday, December 5, to elucidate why he needed to miss the TV dedication because of happen earlier that day.
“Inform me you’ve gotten youngsters with out telling me you’ve gotten youngsters: Having to postpone a @at this time present look due to pink eye,” the Dawson’s Creek alum wrote alongside a selfie with one in all his daughters.
He then apologized to In the present day and the present’s anchor Craig Melvin “for having to push” and shared the rescheduled date of his new look.
“Pink eye(s) nearly cleared up. See you Dec 17,” he concluded.
Van Der Beek and his spouse Kimberly share six youngsters, Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 4.
In addition to having his fingers full juggling the obligations concerned together with his giant household, the Varsity Blues star has been busy preventing most cancers.
Van Der Beek first introduced in November 2024 that he had been recognized with stage 3 colorectal most cancers.
“I’ve been privately coping with this prognosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the assist of my unbelievable household,” he advised Folks on the time, including, “There’s motive for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
In a video interview for the outlet, Van Der Beek famous the impact his prognosis has had on his kids.
“My youngsters have been so supportive and so loving and so tender,” he mentioned. “And also you hate to observe them need to develop up in that approach however you watch them actually put you first, which, as a father, is, like, heartwarming and in addition devastating.”

Kimberly has additionally been supportive of her husband throughout his well being battle. Most just lately, Kimberly praised him through the feedback part of a November Instagram put up as he tried to unload one in all his jerseys from 1999 movie Varsity Blues so as to elevate cash to pay for his most cancers remedy. The funds will even assist to “assist households strolling the identical path.”
“You’re a wizard. Bouncing again, child!! 😍😍😍,” Kimberly wrote beneath his put up.
Van Der Beek’s In the present day present look isn’t the one work dedication he’s needed to skip this 12 months.
The actor additionally pulled out of attending the Dawson’s Creek reunion in individual in September because of well being points.
“That is the night I’d been wanting ahead to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams mentioned she was placing it collectively, approach again in January…” Van Der Beek wrote through Instagram, simply someday earlier than the reunion was scheduled to happen.
Van Der Beek was set to hitch his former costars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Williams in New York Metropolis for the reunion, which raised cash for most cancers.
“So you’ll be able to think about how gutted I used to be when two abdomen viruses conspired to knock me out of fee and maintain me grounded on the worst attainable second,” he continued. “Regardless of each effort… I gained’t get to be there. I gained’t get to face on that stage and thank each soul within the theater for exhibiting up for me, and towards most cancers, after I wanted it most.”
Van Der Beek introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda would change him on the reunion occasion, enjoying his character Dawson for the pilot’s stay script studying on the occasion.
Regardless of not having the ability to present up within the flesh on the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway,, Van Der Beek did handle to make a cameo on the occasion through a digital look.
“I can’t consider I’m not there,” he mentioned in a prerecorded video message performed on stage on the time. “I can’t consider I don’t get to hug my castmates, my stunning solid, in individual, and I simply needed to face on that stage and thank each single individual on this theater for being right here tonight — from the solid to the crew to everyone who donated their time and has been so beneficiant. And particularly each single final one in all you. You’re the perfect followers on this planet. Thanks for coming.”
