James Van Der Beek was a picture of strength and hope amid his health battle, but he reportedly gave up weeks before he succumbed to cancer. According to a new report, the Dawson's Creek star decided to stop his treatment, which had already strained their family's finances.
Van Der Beek was full of optimism and even had plans to start his New Year in the spring. Unfortunately, he didn't make it, and the late actor had seemingly lost hope as he faced the grim reality of how cancer had taken a toll on his health and finances.
Van Der Beek opened up about his Stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024. At the time, he had been battling the illness for months already.
His treatment required constant medical appointments and treatments, affecting his work. He had been eager to recover, but an unnamed source told theDaily Mailthat he 'had not been in treatment for a while because there was nothing more the doctors could do.'
Van Der Beek's cancer was 'aggressive.' So, he decided to focus his last few weeks with his family.
'James wanted peace the last few weeks of his life,' the tipster said.
He reportedly spent his last weeks in a hospice with his family. He was reportedly 'so ill' and 'weak.'
In January, Van Der Beek shared a video questioning why the New Year is in January.
'Why are we celebrating a New Year in the dead of winter? Why are we celebrating new beginnings at a time when nature rests,' he asked.
The actor said the annual event should have been celebrated in the spring, when the flowers bloom, the birds fly, and the climate is warmer, not when the animals are hibernating. Van Der Beek seemed hopeful about surviving his illness, with plans to begin his new year in the spring.
Source: International Business Times UK
