James Van Der Beek, known for his titular role as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, surprised fans with a virtual appearance at a cast reunion on Monday (September 22) despite previously revealing he had to miss out due to illness. The event, held at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City, aimed to raise funds for F Cancer, a cause close to Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year.
Though Van Der Beek, 48, was unable to attend in person due to two stomach viruses, he recorded a heartfelt video message for the audience, expressing his gratitude to the fans and his cast mates, per E! News.
"I can't believe I'm not there. I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight," he said, adding that he had been "looking forward to this night for months and months."
The event was directed by Jason Moore and produced by a team including actress Michelle Williams and producer Greg Berlanti. It marked a significant moment for fans of the beloved series, which originally aired from 1998 to 2003, as the original cast — including Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson — read the pilot episode script.
In his video, Van Der Beek explained that while he couldn't be there, he found the perfect understudy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and joking that his kids "would consider [it] an upgrade." Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly, and their children attended the event and joined the cast on stage to sing the show's theme song, Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait."
Van Der Beek has been open about his cancer journey, sharing in a previous interview with People that "miracles do happen" and emphasizing the importance of going easy on oneself during challenging times.