James Van Der Beek is best known for his role as the titular character in the popular WB series Dawson’s Creek. Since then, the teen heartthrob, now 47, has married and welcomed a slew of children. And recently, James revealed he got a vasectomy after he and his wife, Kimberly, welcomed their sixth child.
As a refresher, James and Kimberly said “I do” in 2010. They welcomed their first child, Olivia, that same year. After that, Joshua arrived in 2012, Annabel in 2014, Emilia in 2016, Gwendolyn in 2018, and Jeremiah in 2021.
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James shared he got a vasectomy after his son, Jeremiah, was born. Their family is complete after welcoming six kids, he recently revealed. During a sit-down with People in November, he offered insight into the decision.
“I figured the only way we’re going to stop this is if we have some medical intervention,” he said of his mindset after his and Kimberly’s sixth child was born.
The actor also shared a funny anecdote involving his daughter, Gwendolyn, after the vasectomy. After the vasectomy, James said he warned his young children to be gentle with him.
“I said listen, guys, you know Daddy has some surgery on his private parts, so just be really careful when you run up to me not to bump into anything,” he told People. “And my youngest daughter looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Daddy, I hope your vagina feels better.'”
Although James and Kimberly “love having kids,” he admitted they only “had one planned child.”
“One! Out of six. One was 100% on purpose. The one thing we really sucked at was not getting pregnant,” James explained. “But thank God, honestly, because it’s such a struggle for people, and we really don’t take it for granted. I joke, and I laugh, but like, yeah, we really just kind of got lucky that way.”
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On November 3, 2024, James announced he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
“I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” he wrote in part via Instagram. “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.”
He later shared his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis.
His wife and children have been a source of strength. James admitted there was “no way to get through this without” without Kimberly. “As much as it sucked this past year, there’s not a moment that I ever would have wanted to trade with her watching me go through this,” he explained.
Although their kids felt “scared” in the wake of James’ cancer diagnosis, they’re “so supportive and loving and tender,” James told People.
He then joked, “One thing I’ve asked every doctor is, ‘What are the odds that I can get my kids to stop calling it ‘butt cancer’? The prognosis is never good on that one.”
