Who did James Van Der Beek play in Dawson's Creek? Actor auctions off career souvenirs to cover cost of cancer treatment

In 2024, it came to light that actor James Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. As of recent, James, who played the titular character of Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, is in the process of auctioning several items of his memorabilia from the series to raise funds for his ongoing cancer treatment.

According to an exclusive report by People Magazine from November 11, the actor is auctioning off some of the souvenirs he collected from the shows, including Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues. In collaboration with Propstore, James will auction off some of the items that include set pieces, clothing, props, and equipment etc. The auction will be held from December 5 to 7, 2025, wherein the live in-room bidding event will take place in London on December 6, and the global bidding will be available through December 7.

One of the items in the sale is Joey’s necklace, which Dawson gifted. It is expected to be priced somewhere between $26,400 and $52,800. Another item that will be auctioned off is the outfit worn by the character in the pilot episode of the show. It can amount to as much as $4000.

The auction will also include accessories from the 1999 sports-comedy Varsity Blues, where James Van Der Beek played Mox. As reported, Van Der Beek will receive complete earnings from the sale.

James Van Der Beek shares his thoughts about the auction

Those who wish to try their luck in purchasing the items can register for the December 6 bidding in London. The global bidding will be available till December 7. The actor also shared a statement auctioning away the items, saying:

“I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it's clear that the time is now.”

James Van der Beek also stated:

“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.”

James Van Der Beek said it was important to be honest with his children about his health

When James Van der Beek’s cancer diagnosis came to light, he shared a statement with People Magazine saying that he has kept his journey with the treatment away from the public eye. He praised his family and said he was optimistic about the outcome. At the time, he also said:

"I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy - or as far as I knew it at the time."

In July 2025, he spoke to Today, where he updated:

“I’m feeling great. It’s been a journey. There are just so many ups and downs and so many unknowns. Cancer is – I call it a full-time job ... It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”

James Van Der Beek also added that he tried to be honest with his kids about his cancer. He felt that hiding the truth would only confuse them since they could already tell when he was in pain. Once he shared what was happening, his kids became caring and supportive, often asking how they could help and making him tea.

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