James Van Der Beek celebrated Halloween with his family, showcasing resilience amid his ongoing battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared photos of their family costumes on Instagram on Saturday morning, November 1. The images captured the previous night’s festivities, October 31.
James, 48, transformed into the Phantom of the Opera, complete with a tuxedo, white bow tie, and a matching half-mask. Kimberly, 43, dressed as a fox, accessorizing her costume with a spider web painted on her neck.
She posted a selfie with James on her Instagram Stories, captioning it "The ghost and the fox."
The couple’s six children, Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 11; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 7; and Jeremiah, 4, also joined in the fun. Olivia was not pictured in the family photos.
Annabel dressed as the Statue of Liberty, while Emilia chose a witch costume. Joshua opted for a skeleton, and Gwendolyn appeared as Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters. Jeremiah delighted in an adorable lime green bear outfit.
After posing for photos, James and Kimberly took their children trick-or-treating around their neighborhood. Kimberly shared an image of James and Jeremiah in a golf cart for their candy-collecting expedition.
"A golf cart for trick-or-treating? We’re not saying no," she wrote, adding, "Thanks to my love @odetteannable."
Van Der Beek publicly announced his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in Fall 2023. He told People in November 2023 that he had been managing the diagnosis privately.
"I’ve been dealing with this diagnosis privately and have taken steps to address it, with the support of my incredible family," the Dawson’s Creek actor stated. He expressed optimism, noting, "There is reason for optimism, and I feel good."
Van Der Beek described his cancer journey as an intense period of self-discovery. "This has been an intensive course in mastering mind, body, and spirit," he said. "I thought, ‘This will either take me out of my body or teach me to truly live in it.’"
His father, James William, provided crucial support during this challenging time. In a January Instagram tribute, Van Der Beek praised his father’s unwavering presence.
"The way you’ve been present when I’ve been down this year—unasked for, not even expecting a thank you—has been not only life-saving but life-affirming," he wrote. He detailed how his father moved to the ranch to assist while he was away for treatment. This included preparing meals, lighting the fireplace for Kimberly, driving the children, and caring for their pets.
Van Der Beek expressed deep gratitude for the emotional support. "I’m moved by how you’ve been there for me emotionally as I face all that cancer entails," he shared.
He acknowledged his father stepped outside his comfort zone, especially since his mother’s passing. "You’ve been there for me again and again in ways I didn’t even know how much I needed," he concluded, adding a humorous note, "I will keep my promise that we will never ask you to change Jeremiah’s diapers."