James Van Der Beek is putting some of his most prized TV memorabilia up for auction to help cover the costs of his cancer treatment.
The 48-year-old actor, who shares six children with his wife Kimberly, disclosed his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis last year.
To help fund his costly medical care, the star – best known for his role in the iconic teen series that ran from 1998 to 2003 – has partnered with Propstore to sell treasured pieces from his personal archive.
Dawson’s Creek enthusiasts will have the opportunity to purchase the ensemble he donned in the pilot episode, anticipated to fetch up to $4k.
Collectors can also bid on the necklace Dawson presented to his on-screen love interest Joey (portrayed by Katie Holmes) for prom, potentially commanding as much as $50k.
James shared with PEOPLE magazine: “I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them. With all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now.”
He added: “While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore’s auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.”
Just over a year ago, the actor revealed the heartbreaking news that he had been battling cancer.
Although he received his diagnosis in 2023, he chose not to immediately go public with the information, opting instead to handle it in private.
When he eventually opened up, he revealed: “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”
Displaying his positive outlook regarding his health battle, he continued: “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
This past March, James looked back on what had been “the hardest year of my life”.
In a touching Instagram post, he described his face-to-face encounter with mortality, saying: “I had to come nose to nose with death. And all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.”
In his raw confession, he detailed what the cancer had prevented him from accomplishing: “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,” he shared.
“I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working. I couldn’t even be a steward of the land because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you’re supposed to prune them.”
In an interview on Good Morning America, James said: “Physically, I’m great. I’m feeling really good. Emotionally, you know, it’s a lot. It’s really a ride… I was honestly in shock [after the diagnosis] I had a whole agenda for what I thought my year would be and what I thought my priorities would be… and the reality that all of that was going to change and take a different trajectory – it felt like a nightmare honestly at first.”
James then voiced his appreciation that his cancer was caught early, providing him with a strong possibility of recovery. He continued: “I’m going to make changes that I never would have made otherwise, that I’m gonna look back on 30 years and say: ‘Thank God this happened'”.
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