James Van Der Beek called cancer 'best thing' in final interview

Two months before his tragic death at 48, James Van Der Beek told Today host Craig Melvin that his August 2023 colorectal cancer diagnosis was "the best thing that ever happened" to him because it gave him a renewed outlook on life. He recalled hearing "a little voice in [his] head" that urged changes he would not have made otherwise, saying the illness taught him to slow down and to look more closely at what he ate.

The actor described cancer as prompting a "journey of self-love." Van Der Beek said he was feeling "strong," "good" and "better than [he] did a couple months ago," adding, "It’s been a longer journey than I ever thought it would be. It’s required more of me — more patience, more discipline, more strength than I knew I had." He also said, "I think before cancer, I took all these little, beautiful moments as part of a collective...

van der, colorectal cancer, craig melvin, today show, interview, self love, diagnosis, renewed outlook, patience, august 2023