James Van Der Beek Forced to Bow Out of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion Cancer Charity Event

James Van Der Beek has been forced to drop out of the “Dawson’s Creek” reunion charity event in New York City after falling ill amid his battle with cancer.

The 48-year-old actor was slated to join his former castmates—Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps—at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Monday evening for a live reading of the hit drama series’ pilot episode.

The special one-night-only event was organized to support the nonprofit “F” Cancer as well as Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023.

However, in a Sept. 21 Instagram post, Van Der Beek—who played the show’s titular character, Dawson Leery, from 1998 to 2003—shared that he would be unable to attend after coming down with a stomach bug.

“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,” the actor penned.

“So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment. 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.”

Van Der Beek assured fans that the show would go on, noting that Lin-Manuel Miranda—a Tony Award-winning multihyphenate known for starring in the acclaimed Broadway musicals “Hamilton” and “In The Heights”—would be taking his place on the stage.

“I DO have an understudy. A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient,” Van Der Beek quipped.

“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.”

Although Van Der Beek won’t be in attendance, his wife of 15 years, Kimberly, and the couple’s six children will be there to show their support.

“Come! It will be so special. His whole family will be there too,” his wife wrote in response to a comment on her husband’s post. “We are all [in New York City]! Was important to him we come!!”