James van der Beek was eager to connect with fans at the Dawson’s Creek reunion but had to bow out of the event in New York City due to “two stomach viruses.” However, he made a surprise appearance via a pre-recorded message.
In the video, the actor, who famously played the lead in the series for six seasons, expressed his disappointment about missing an occasion he had been looking forward to for so long.
The 48-year-old appeared in a brown jacket, white T-shirt, and plaid hat as his heartfelt message was shown on stage at the Richard Rogers Theatre. “I can’t believe I’m not there,” he shared with the audience. “I can’t believe I can’t meet my… beautiful cast.”
Van der Beek expressed deep gratitude to the cast and crew, acknowledging their support and generosity. He mentioned that he felt truly humbled by the night’s activities.
He also praised “The Best Fans in the World” for participating in a live reading of the first episode of “Dawson’s Creek.” He continued, “Thank you to everyone here,” emphasizing his appreciation for the event.
Over the weekend, Van der Beek had announced that playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda would step in for him during the live readings. “I have an understudy,” he joked, noting that he “stole” Miranda from missing the reunion. He mentioned that he was sure his children would be proud of him.
James shares six children with his wife, Kimberly van der Beek: Olivia, 14; Joshua, 13; Annabelle, 11; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 7; and another child. Kimberly and his children participated in the event along with his former co-stars like Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams.
Two of his daughters even helped cast members sing the show’s theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait.” Kimberly had hinted on Instagram beforehand that it was important for James to be there, supporting his return to the spotlight.
James was diagnosed with cancer in August 2023, sharing the news after several months. He later expressed that he was in a phase of healing, noting that his energy levels were quite good. During his recent video, fans voiced their concerns about his health, expressing both fear and encouragement on social media.
