James Van Der Beek is feeling optimistic amid his ongoing cancer battle.
Speaking to Extra in an interview published Thursday, March 20, Van Der Beek said he can see the light at the end of the tunnel,
“I feel like I can see the finish line… I’m in a healing phase, which is great,” Van Der Beek, 48, told the outlet. “I’m going back to work next month. I’m taking this month really to just kind of relax.”
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The Dawson’s Creek alum was unveiled as the griffin while being eliminated on Wednesday night’s episode of The Masked Singer.
James Van Der Beek Details Stage 3 Cancer Battle: ‘Cautiously Optimistic’
He told Extra that he was thankful to be able to perform while hidden under the costume after his colorectal cancer diagnosis became public knowledge in November 2024.
“Especially with everything I was going through, and I just announced the health issues I was dealing with, so to be able to put on the mask and connect with an audience without that being a part of the equation was actually a really beautiful thing,” he explained.
The actor added, “I appreciated the mask. The costume itself was heavy as could be… but the mask I appreciated.”
Van Der Beek first revealed his cancer diagnosis in an interview with People in November 2024 and shared his positivity despite the news.
“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he explained at the time. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
James Van Der Beek Reflects on ‘Tough Year’ After Cancer Diagnosis
In a candid Instagram post shared earlier this month, Van Der Beek opened up about the past year being the “hardest” of his life as well as sharing the effect his cancer diagnosis has had on his family. (Van Der Beek has been married to his wife Kimberley since 2010 and the couple share six children: Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, Jeremiah, 2.)
“This year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye. I came nose to nose with death,” he said in the Instagram video. “All of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me. I was away for treatment so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them.”
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