Dawson’s Creek is one of those shows that’s stayed with us even decades after it ended. We fell in love with Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen, played by James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams. The show tackled storylines not often shared in the late 1990s. Many fans continue to feel a deep connection to the show. In early 2025, rumors began to swirl about a Dawson’s reunion with the stars on board to get together for charity. Sadly, the night before the September 22 event, James Van Der Beek shared he would not attend. James, who’s been battling cancer, had two stomach viruses that made it impossible to travel.
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“Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most,” he wrote.
James Van Der Beek Made A Surprise Appearance
James Van Der Beek noted on Instagram that Lin-Manueal Miranda would be his understudy for the night. He joked that kids would think he was an “upgrade.” The original Dawson did make an appearance via a video message, per People.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,” James said. “I can’t believe I’m not there; I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast, in person.”
“And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight,” he added. “From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.”
James Van Der Beek closed with a thank you and a sweet introduction of Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here,” he said. “And, obviously, on Dawson’s Creek, I had no understudy, but this is Broadway, and I needed one. So we figured we’d try to find somebody who had never understudied in this theater before.”
This story’s featured image is by JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images.
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