James Van Der Beek is contributing to a cause close to his heart.
The Dawson’s Creek alum is set to appear in The Real Full Monty—a two-hour special dedicated to raising awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing and research—weeks after sharing with the world he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023.
But in the year after receiving his stage 3 diagnosis, James told E! News, “I’m doing great. Feeling good, feeling strong. In a good place.”
And on Dec. 9, the 47-year-old will strip down onstage alongside Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, Tyler Posey, Bruno Tonioli and Chris Jones to help raise awareness and lower the stigma around cancer, encouraging viewers to get screened.
It’s a cause that’s close to the hearts of all those involved, as Anthony noted.
“Unfortunately, we're all affected by cancer somehow, in some way,” the Black-ish star explained. “That's how this happened for us, and here we are now forging friendships with one another and over a common goal of bringing awareness to cancer.”
And for Bruno—who participated in honor of his fellow Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman, who died in April 2023 from prostate cancer—participating in the special was a no-brainer.
“We all have one voice in this, you know, just lose your inhibitions, get tested, go to the doctor, because it can save your life,” he said. “And we had a fantastic time doing it. These guys are amazing, and the show is going to be great. But I think the most important thing is saying, ‘Don't be embarrassed. Get checked.’”
And to help spread that message, the six stars learned a striptease choreographed by Mandy Moore which they then performed in front of a live audience.
As James added, “I think the message that we’re trying to put out to America, is that if we can stand onstage and strip in front of a thousand people, and do this dance, then you know what, hopefully that inspires you to get over that little hump and talk to your doctor. And get the test and get the screening. ‘Cause it can save your life.”
In the weeks since sharing his health battle with the world, James—who is dad to kids Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek—has been candid about the realities of navigating a cancer diagnosis.
“The trickiest thing is there are so many unknowns with cancer,” he told People in an interview published Nov. 8. “You think, ‘How do I fix this? Is this healing me? Is this hurting me? Is this working? Is it coming back?’ As someone who likes answers, not knowing is one of the hardest things."
But after battling his cancer privately since 2023, James decided to share his news.
“I've been dealing with this pretty much in secret for a while, and in the past, I've found it helpful and cathartic to share things publicly,” he said. “And I've found a lot of support that way. But more than that, I really wanted to raise awareness.”
And while the Varsity Blues star opted to keep the specific details of his treatments private, he did note he’s explored a wide range of options.
"This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit," he added. "I thought, ‘This is either going to take me out of the body, or it’s going to teach me how to truly live in it.’”
For more stars who have been candid about cancer battles, keep reading.
Colin Egglesfield
The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.
Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.
“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”
Gerry Turner
The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.
"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”
Jim Beaver
The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.
Ariana Madix
"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"
Marcia Cross
The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram.
Dustin Hoffman
The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."
Hugh Jackman
The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.
In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."
Camille Grammer
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.
Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
Gordon Ramsay
Alongside a pair of photos that show a line of stitches running from the bottom of his ear to his jaw, which he later covered with a bandage, the British celebrity chef shared that he underwent a procedure to treat skin cancer.
“Grateful and so appreciative for the incredible team at The Skin Associates and their fast reactive work on removing this Basal Cell Carcinoma,” Gordon wrote on Instagram August 2025. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend.”
“I promise you it’s not a face lift,” he added. “I’d need a refund…”
Cobie Smulders
The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.
Dr. Drew Pinsky
TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.
Brooke Burke
The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."
Angie Everhart
Christina Applegate
The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.
Michael C. Hall
The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Michelle Monaghan
The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.
Ewan McGregor
The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.
Sheryl Crow
The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
Michael Douglas
The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."
Edie Falco
The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.
Anderson Cooper
Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.
Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.
Barry Watson
The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!
Maura Tierney
The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.
Sharon Osbourne
The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.
Robert De Niro
The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.
Robin Roberts
The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.
Lance Armstrong
The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.
Melissa Etheridge
The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.
Julia Sweeney
The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.