James Van Der Beek auctioning 'Dawson's Creek' memorabilia to pay for cancer battle

James Van Der Beek is auctioning off memorabilia from his teen heartthrob heyday amid a battle with cancer.

The "Dawson's Creek" star, 48, told People in a new interview that he was teaming up with Propstore to sell off some of the most notable items from his time on the WB show, as well as from his role in the 1999 cult classic "Varsity Blues."

The items, which include Dawson's pilot episode outfit and his cleats from "Varsity," will be auctioned off during Propstore's Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, scheduled for Dec. 5–7, 2025. Proceeds from the auction will go to Van Der Beek's treatment costs as he faces Stage 3 colorectal cancer.

"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," Van Der Beek told People.

"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," he continued.

Van Der Beek, who went public with his diagnosis in November 2024, told USA TODAY in December that the outpouring of love from his friends, including former "Dawson's" castmates, had been overwhelming.

"It's been amazing and overwhelming," he said. "To find myself in a place where I'm being supported with so many good wishes really took me aback."

In August, the actor also revealed to USA TODAY that cancer hadn't just prompted gestures of love from others, it forced him to lean in to self-love.

"Cancer's a wild thing," he said. "It really does force you to look at your own mortality and decide what's important and decide really what you want to live the rest of your life without. And so, one of the big things for me was recognizing how negative my self-talk was."

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, Charles Trepany, USA TODAY