James Van Der Beek is selling 'Dawson's Creek' memorabilia to help cover cancer costs

James Van Der Beer, the American actor who played Dawson Leery on "Dawson's Creek" is selling some personal items pieces from the series to help pay for his cancer costs, People magazine reports.

The 48-year-old actor was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year, and according to People, he is partnering up with Propstore to auction off some of his prized possessions from the coming-of-age series to help cover his cancer costs.

Propstore is an auction house that specializes in entertainment memorabilia. Think props, costumes, posters, toys, and other collectibles. 

The auction will be held on Dec. 5-7, 2025 and will feature "Dawson's Creek" memorabilia from Van Der Beek, like the necklace Dawson gave Joey for prom, as well as Dawson's outfit on the series' pilot episode — yes, the orange flannel shirt. Other items from his showbiz career will also be included in the auction.

“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," People quoted Van Der Beek as saying. 

In November 2024, a 47-year-old Van Der Beek revealed receiving a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis when he was only 46.

 "I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he told People at the time of his cancer diagnosis. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good." 

On his social media, Van Der Beek would openly talk about his illness, ways he's been coping, and the things he's learned his his diagnosis.

"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 told People back then. 

"And I've found a lot of support that way. But more than that, I really wanted to raise awareness," he added. — LA, GMA Integrated News