James Van Der Beek has dropped out of the upcoming Dawson’s Creek reunion due to illness amid his cancer battle.
The 48-year-old actor – who revealed he was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer last year in November 2024 – expressed that he is ‘gutted’ to not be able to attend the September 22 reunion.
The star portrayed the character of Dawson Leery in the teen drama which aired for six seasons and additionally starred Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams.
‘This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,’ Van Der Beek penned on his Instagram page on Sunday.
Alongside a poster which read ‘Dawson’s Creek Cast Reunion,’ the actor added that he was ‘gutted’ when ‘two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.’
He continued, ‘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.’
James Van Der Beek, 48, has dropped out of the upcoming Dawson’s Creek reunion due to illness amid his cancer battle; seen in May in L.A.
The actor – who revealed he was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer last year in November 2024 – expressed that he is ‘gutted’ to not be able to attend the September 22 reunion
However, Van Der Beek explained that his spot will be filled by Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda.
He gushed that the performer is a ‘ridiculously overqualified replacement’ before sharing that his kids ‘would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient.’
In conclusion, the star expressed to his 1.6 million followers, ‘Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family. I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin.
‘And thank you @lin.manuel. You were a hero to my kids before… now you’re a demigod.’
The Dawson’s Creek reunion is a charity event that is set to take place on September 22 in New York City.
Other stars of the show that will reunite include Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Phillips.
The group are slated to do ‘a live reading of the show’s iconic pilot episode to benefit F Cancer and James Van Der Beek,’ per an official description of the event.
Dawson’s Creek aired from 1998 through 2003 on The WB and garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air, such as a Teen Choice Award in 2000 for TV – Choice Drama.
Alongside a poster which read ‘Dawson’s Creek Cast Reunion,’ the actor added that he was ‘gutted’ when ‘two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment’
Dawson’s Creek aired from 1998 through 2003 on The WB and garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air, such as a Teen Choice Award in 2000 for TV – Choice Drama; cast seen in 1999
Last year in November, Van Der Beek revealed his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis.
At the time, the star said that he had been ‘privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it with the support’ from his loved ones.
‘I have colorectal cancer. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,’ he told People.
A few months earlier in July, the star gave an update amid his cancer battle during an interview on Today.
He explained that he has made major lifestyle changes such as focusing on a healthier diet and doing yoga.
‘The beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job, I’m just on the journey.’
The Hollywood actor added, ‘It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.’
He also revealed the emotional effect when fans stated that they have taken the step to get checked after he opened up about his own colon cancer journey.
At the time, the star said that he had been ‘privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it with the support’ from his loved one
‘The beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job, I’m just on the journey,’ the star said in July; seen in May in Texas
‘Guys I see at the gas station, people come up to me at a coffee shop, I appreciate it every time, That’s been stuff that really makes me cry.’
Van Der Beek continued, ‘When people say, “I got checked, I got a colonoscopy, I got a polyp removed” – just to save somebody that journey.’
Earlier this year in March, the star opened up about his cancer journey as he marked his 48th birthday.
He told his followers that the last year, ‘has been the hardest of my life,’ in a video posted on social media.
Labeling the clip ‘What Cancer Taught Me,’ the Dawson’s Creek alum described how coming ‘nose to nose with Death,’ had helped him redefine who he is.
‘When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband and it was much better.
‘And then I became a father and that was the ultimate,’ he told the camera while sitting in what looked like the family home he shares with his wife, Kimberly and their six children.
He said being away from his family for treatment and living alone in an apartment had forced him to ‘look my own mortality in the eye.’
As he was contemplating his identity, the Vampirina voice actor said, ‘I was faced with the question, “If I am just a too-skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?”‘
‘And then I became a father and that was the ultimate,’ he told the camera while sitting in what looked like the family home he shares with his wife, Kimberly and their six children
‘I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?’ he asked; seen in 2024 in L.A.
The Downsizing actor said he was meditating on that question, when he got an answer regarding what he considered his diminished status.
‘I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?’ he asked.
The Varsity Blues star then encouraged those watching the video to try to incorporate the message into their own lives, regardless of their beliefs.
Van Der Beek said his cancer was discovered after undergoing a colonoscopy in August 2023. He did not reveal his diagnosis until November 2024.
