James Van Der Beek was forced to miss a planned appearance on the Today show — but there was a good reason behind his absence.
The actor, 48, took to his Instagram Story on Friday, December 5, to explain why he had to miss the TV commitment due to occur earlier that day.
“Tell me you have kids without telling me you have kids: Having to postpone a @today show appearance because of pink eye,” the Dawson’s Creek alum wrote alongside a selfie with one of his daughters.
He then apologized to Today and the show’s anchor Craig Melvin “for having to push” and shared the rescheduled date of his new appearance.
“Pink eye(s) almost cleared up. See you Dec 17,” he concluded.
Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly share six kids, Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 4.
As well as having his hands full juggling the responsibilities involved with his large family, the Varsity Blues star has been busy fighting cancer.
Van Der Beek first announced 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, adding, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
In a video interview for the outlet, Van Der Beek noted the effect his diagnosis has had on his children.
“My kids have been so supportive and so loving and so tender,” he said. “And you hate to watch them have to grow up in that way but you watch them really put you first, which, as a father, is, like, heartwarming and also devastating.”
Kimberly has also been supportive of her husband during his health battle. Most recently, Kimberly praised him via the comments section of a November Instagram post as he attempted to sell off one of his jerseys from 1999 film Varsity Blues in order to raise money to pay for his cancer treatment. The funds will also help to “support families walking the same path.”
“You’re a wizard. Bouncing back, baby!! 😍😍😍,” Kimberly wrote under his post.
Van Der Beek’s Today show appearance isn’t the only work commitment he’s had to skip this year.
The actor also pulled out of attending the Dawson’s Creek reunion in person in September due to health issues.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January…” Van Der Beek wrote via Instagram, just one day before the reunion was scheduled to take place.
Van Der Beek was set to join his former costars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Williams in New York City for the reunion, which raised money for cancer.
“So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment,” he continued. “Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.”
Van Der Beek announced Lin-Manuel Miranda would replace him at the reunion event, playing his character Dawson for the pilot’s live script reading at the event.
Despite not being able to show up in the flesh at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway,, Van Der Beek did manage to make a cameo at the event via a virtual appearance.
“I can’t believe I’m not there,” he said in a prerecorded video message played on stage at the time. “I can’t believe I don’t get to hug my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person, and I just wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight — from the cast to the crew to everybody who donated their time and has been so generous. And especially every single last one of you. You’re the best fans in the world. Thank you for coming.”
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