TV star makes first red carpet appearance since shock cancer diagnosis
Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek stepped out at a movie premier this week, his first public outing since he announced earlier this month that he has been diagnosed with cancer. James, who shot to fame as Dawson Leery in the 90s and noughties TV drama series, attended the premier of Sidelined: The QB and Me in West Hollywood on Thursday evening. James has a lead role in the film, and the premier marks the 47-year-old actor's first red carpet appearance since he announced he has stage three bowel cancer in early November.
The movie tells the story of a headstrong dancer and a cocky quarterback – played by Noah Beck, who James posed on the red carpet with – who fight against their feelings for each other. The smiling star looked stylish in a brown suit with a yellow-gold windowpane check, burnt orange jumper and suede brown loafers.
James appeared to be in good spirits, having already revealed how heartened he had been by the outpouring of love and support after his diagnosis.
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James has explained that he is 'privately dealing with' his diagnosis and has been 'taking steps to resolve it’ with the support of his family. He also told People Magazine: “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good". James and wife Kimberly – whom he wed in 2010 – have six children, Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, eight, Gwen, six and Jeremiah, three.
James originally shared his health update in a lengthy Instagram post. Over a montage video, he wrote to his 1.6 million followers: “It is cancer… Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them. There’s no playbook for how to announce these things, but I’d planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon… to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms.”
He then explained: “But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news.” He expressed a positive outlook as he asserted, “I'm in a good place and feeling strong. It's been quite the initiation, and I'll tell you more when I'm ready.”
“Apologies to all the people in my life who I'd planned on telling myself. Nothing about this process has occurred on my preferred timeline…” he added. “But we roll with it, taking each surprise as a signpost, pointing us toward a greater destiny than we would have discovered without divine intervention. Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support.”
