James Van Der Beek Reveals Why He Didn’t Appear on Today

James Van Der Beek had to cancel his appearance on the Today show due to a case of pink eye, as he revealed in an Instagram Story post on December 5. The 48-year-old actor shared a selfie with one of his daughters, jokingly captioning it with, “Tell me you have kids without telling me you have kids: Having to postpone a @today show appearance because of pink eye.”

Apologizing to the Today show and anchor Craig Melvin for the inconvenience, Van Der Beek announced the rescheduled date for his appearance, which is now set for December 17. He reassured his fans that his pink eye would soon be cleared up by then.

Van Der Beek is a father of six children with his wife Kimberly – Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. In addition to managing his large family, the Varsity Blues star has been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since November 2024.

In an interview with People magazine, Van Der Beek expressed gratitude for the support of his family during his health journey. He also highlighted the impact the diagnosis has had on his children, who have been incredibly supportive and loving throughout the process.

Kimberly has been a pillar of strength for Van Der Beek, offering words of encouragement and support. She recently praised him for auctioning off a jersey from his 1999 film Varsity Blues to raise funds for his cancer treatment and to support other families facing similar challenges.

Unfortunately, Van Der Beek had to miss the Dawson’s Creek reunion in September due to health issues. The event, organized by Michelle Williams, aimed to raise funds for cancer research. Despite his absence, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to play his character Dawson for the live script reading at the event.

Reflecting on his missed opportunities, Van Der Beek expressed gratitude to his fans and supporters for their unwavering love and encouragement. Despite the challenges he faces, he remains optimistic and determined to fight his battle against cancer with the support of his family and fans by his side. The world of technology is constantly evolving, with new innovations and advancements being introduced every day. One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in various industries.

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