James Van Der Beek Drops Out of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion: ‘Gutted’

James Van Der Beek says he will not be in attendance at the Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event, citing health struggles amid his cancer diagnosis.

In an Instagram post shared on Sunday, Sept. 21 — just one day before the one-night-only charity event on Monday, Sept. 22 — the 48-year-old actor wrote that he was “gutted” after developing two different stomach viruses, but assured fans that he would have an “understudy.”

“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 began his lengthy Instagram message. “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.”

The cast of the beloved WB teen drama series — including Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps — are set to reunite at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year.

“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 continued.

Van Der Beek also joked that he will have a “ridiculously overqualified replacement” at the event, “who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available).”

The replacement will be “someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater, so that’s convenient,” he joked, before announcing that Lin-Manuel Miranda will read the part of Dawson.

“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,” Van Der Beek wrote, before adding a reference to the Broadway star’s role in Moana. “Thank you @lin_manuel. You were a hero to my kids before… now you’re a demigod 😇.”

Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, shared in a comment on the post that she and the couple’s children will be in attendance at the reunion event. “Was important to him we come!!” she wrote.

Dawson’s alum Jason Moore is directing the event, which is produced by Carl Ogawa, Moore, Williams, Thomas Kail, Maggie Brohn, Kevin Williamson and Greg Berlanti. The show aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003.

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Van Der Beek has been candid about his journey with cancer after he announced his diagnosis in November 2024.

During a July appearance on the third hour of Today, the actor admitted that fighting cancer is “a full-time job.”

“It’s been a journey,” he said. “There are just so many ups and downs and so many unknowns.”

Eight months after revealing his cancer diagnosis, Van Der Beek said he has made a number of changes to his lifestyle, including practicing yoga, stretching often and switching to a ketogenic diet. He told the outlet that he’s also now finding “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,” he said. “It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.” 

While speaking about his health journey to PEOPLE in November 2024, Van Der Beek said he was feeling good and offered some advice for others going through something similar.

“Miracles do happen — and they happen all the time,” he said. “It’s scary at the onset. It’s overwhelming. Go easy on yourself. You got this.”

“I’ve really been so blessed with my wife and kids,” he added. “I’ve got a lot to live for, and it’s a beautiful life.”