This article includes mentions of sexual assault and miscarriage.
What’s more, he’s even been confronted with some of his co-stars' success.
While “Dawson’s Creek” mania eventually cooled, things weren’t suddenly smooth sailing.
Van Der Beek has faced some tragic and challenging ups and downs throughout his life.
I’ve had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger.
I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness & inability to blow the whistle.
There’s a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Everything was coming together perfectly," James said.
“It progressed very quickly into being worried about Kim.
We were both just crying and sobbing and there was a lot of blood.
Way more blood than any delivery.”
After his wife lost consciousness, James called 911.
Kimberly was taken to the hospital.
James later shared onInstagramthat his wife almost died.
“All you know is that it brings you closer together.”
It came down between him and Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke, who got saved by the judges.
The actor, however, told Brooke to embrace her victory.
In anInstagrampost, James admitted that he and his family had a long road of healing ahead of them.
The actor took toInstagramin July 2020 to share the heartbreaking news.
He explained that his mother had been ill for some time but that her death was a shock nonetheless.
Just trying to hold space and allow for it all," James wrote.
He admitted that navigating her death had been hard, that it was nothing like what he’d expected.
Later that day, however, Van Der Beek and his Onewheel had a bit of a misunderstanding.
“I didn’t check.
SO I tumbled.”
He told fans that he was lucky, considering he hadn’t been wearing a helmet when he fell.
While Emilia’s injury had been minor, it came after an intense year for James and his wife.
And a shut-down."
Speaking toPeopleabout his diagnosis, the actor said he never saw it coming.
“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles.
But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape,” he said.
He also noted that cancer did not run in his family.
But the opposite happened.
“Then the gastroenterologist said in his most pleasant bedside manner that it was cancer.
I think I went into shock,” he admitted.
Telling his kids was challenging for James.
“They’re scared,” he toldPeople.
“It’s natural.
But they’ve been so supportive and loving and tender.”
He added that his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, has been his rock during this difficult time.
“There’s no way to get through this without her,” he admitted.
James' kids, at least, have been trying to find some humor in the situation.
The prognosis is never good on that one," he quipped.
The actor then had no choice but to confirm his diagnosis on social media.
“Nothing about this process has occurred on my preferred timeline…
The actor said he wanted his diagnosis to spread awareness and to help those on similar journeys.
“And I’ve found a lot of support that way.”
“I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee.
Or maybe not put cream in the coffee.
Those who have a family history of the disease are advised to start testing earlier.
Colon cancer develops slowly over the course of about 10 years, which means early detection is possible.
However, his cancer journey hasn’t provided him with many thus far.
“The trickiest thing is there are so many unknowns with cancer,” he admitted.
“You think, ‘How do I fix this?
Is this healing me?
Is this hurting me?
Is it coming back?'”
Having his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, see him dealing with the disease has also been hard.
The actor told People that he has nothing but sympathy for his other half.
To every caregiver out there, man, God bless you and thank you,” he said.
In the meantime, he said, “I have a lot to live for.”
