NEED TO KNOW
- James Van Der Beek and Craig Melvin are all smiles in new photos posted to social media
- The Dawson’s Creek alum will sit down with the Today show co-host to discuss his cancer journey and his faith
- Van Der Beek revealed his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis exclusively to PEOPLE in November 2024
James Van Der Beek is a beaming “ray of positivity” ahead of his upcoming Today show appearance.
In a social media post shared on Instagram Wednesday, Dec. 17, Today show co-host Craig Melvin posed alongside the Dawson’s Creek star, 48, for a photo on the set of their interview.
“Spent the day in TX on James Van Der Beek’s ranch,” the 46-year-old NBC broadcaster captioned his three-photo carousel.
For their first picture, they stood next to each other, both smiling indoors, facing the camera.
“Overcast and dreary outside but James is quite the ray of positivity these days. It was refreshing and inspiring,” Melvin added in the caption before sharing a glimpse of his and Van Der Beek’s conversation. “We talked about where he is on his journey, the importance of cancer screenings, and how he’s finding joy in family and faith.”
He added that the pre-taped interview would air Friday, Dec. 19.
Van Der Beek revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he told PEOPLE at the time. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
However, he started experiencing bowel movement symptoms in the summer of 2023, but initially assumed it was just his diet that he needed to change.
“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee,” he recalled. “Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”
Van Der Beek admitted that when a gastroenterologist told him they found cancer, “I think I went into shock.”
The Varsity Blues actor, who shares six kids — Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah — with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, had planned to appear on the Today show earlier this month, but had to postpone due to a case of pink eye.
“Tell me you have kids without telling me you have kids,” Van Der Beek wrote in text over an outdoor photo of himself and one of his daughters. “Having to postpone a @today show appearance because of pink eye 😂.”
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He added, “Sorry @today @craigmelvinnbc for having to push,” he wrote. “Pink eye(s) almost cleared up. See you Dec. 17 😊.”
The CSI: Cyber alum shared an update on his health with Today in July, saying, “I’m feeling great. It’s been a journey. There are just so many ups and downs and so many unknowns. Cancer is — I call it a full-time job … It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
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