James Van Der Beek couldn’t bear to miss the Dawson’s Creek reunion entirely, even after backing out in person due to two brutal stomach viruses. The 48-year-old actor, known for playing the lead in the iconic teen drama, popped up in a heartfelt pre-recorded video during Monday’s event in New York City.
Fans at the Richard Rodgers Theatre got to see him on the big screen, wearing a cozy brown jacket, white T-shirt, and plaid hat. “I can’t believe I’m not there,” Van Der Beek said, his voice full of emotion. “I can’t believe I don’t get to see my beautiful cast in person.” He’d been counting down the days to this moment for months, but illness forced him to stay home.
In the video, the Varsity Blues and Pose star poured out his gratitude. He thanked the cast, crew, and everyone involved for their generosity. He saved special praise for the “best fans in the world,” who turned out in droves for a live reading of the show’s first episode. The event raised money for the F Cancer organization, which also supports Van Der Beek’s ongoing colorectal cancer treatment. “It’s just absolutely humbling how much you did for this night,” he added. “Thank you to every single person here.”
Van Der Beek, who revealed his colorectal cancer diagnosis in August 2023 and went public with it last November, shared an update last year with People magazine. “I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great,” he said at the time. He promised to share more once he felt fully out of the woods.
To keep the show going, he introduced his stand-in: Lin-Manuel Miranda. Van Der Beek had announced the Hamilton creator as his understudy on Instagram over the weekend, joking that his six kids—Olivia, 13; Joshua, 12; Annabel, 10; Emilia, 8; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 2—might even see Miranda as an upgrade.
His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, 42, stepped up big time. She brought their children to the reunion, joining former co-stars like Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams onstage. Two of the daughters even grabbed mics to help sing the show’s classic theme, “I Don’t Wanna Wait” by Paula Cole. Kimberly had hinted at their plans on Instagram, saying it was crucial for her husband that the family represent him.
Social media lit up with fan reactions to Van Der Beek’s video appearance. Many noticed how thin he looked and flooded X (formerly Twitter) with support. “This just hit me like a brick. I’m so scared for him,” one fan wrote. Another urged, “Keep trucking, James.” The outpouring shows just how much the Dawson’s Creek community still cares about their star.
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