Dawson's Creek Alums Applaud Co-Star's Cancer Fight

In October 2025, Dawson's Creek alumni Oliver Hudson and Eric Dane have expressed admiration for their co-star James Van Der Beek's strength in the face of his cancer diagnosis. Van Der Beek, who played the lead role in the popular TV series, revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Despite the challenges, Van Der Beek has been praised for his resilience and positive outlook. Hudson, who appeared as a recurring character in the show's sixth season, says he's been following Van Der Beek's journey and is "extremely inspirational and impressive" to see him handle the situation with "grace and dignity and hope and love and positivity."

Dane, who recently revealed his own ALS diagnosis, has also been an inspiration to Hudson. The actor's advocacy work, including speaking to Congress about the reauthorization of ACT for ALS, has left Hudson "floored by his resilience and his strength to push forward."

In July 2025, Van Der Beek shared an update on his health, telling Today that he was "feeling great" despite the "ups and downs and so many unknowns" that come with cancer. However, in September 2025, he announced he would not be attending a Dawson's Creek reunion event due to ongoing health struggles.