Actor Battles Cancer, Faces Pink Eye Setback

James Van Der Beek, an alum of Dawson's Creek, disclosed his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024. He recently explained on Instagram why he had to postpone a scheduled appearance on the Today show. Van Der Beek shared a photo with one of his children, humorously noting that pink eye forced the delay.

Apologizing to the Today show and Craig Melvin, Van Der Beek stated his pink eye was almost cleared and confirmed his attendance for a later date. Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is a common but highly contagious eye condition, according to the CDC. This incident occurred after a previous health-related absence.

In September, Van Der Beek also had to miss a Dawson's Creek reunion event. He cited two stomach viruses as the reason for his inability to attend, expressing his deep disappointment. The actor had planned to express his gratitude to attendees who were supporting him and raising funds against cancer.