Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek drops out of show reunion amid cancer battle

James Van Der Beek was 'gutted' as he revealed he is no longer taking part in the Dawson's Creek reunion due to an illness. The beloved actor, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023, took to his Instagram page to reveal "two stomach viruses knocked me out of commission".

Along with a poster for the reunion,a heartbroken James, 48, wrote: "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… 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."

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He went on to reveal his spot will be replaced by none other than Hamilton icon Lin-Manuel Miranda. Dawson's Creek aired from 1998 to 2003.

"But I DO have an understudy," James said. "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.

"The role of “Dawson”, usually played by James Van Der Beek… Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that.

"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 show's reunion is a charity event set to take place on Monday (September 22) in New York City. Other stars of the show taking part include Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil and John Wesley Shipp.

Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Phillips will also be at the event.

The actor, who has been married to business consultant Kimberly Brook since 2010 and shares six kids with her, previously opened up about his cancer diagnosis and said the cancer will be a 'process for the rest of his life'.

When James first revealed the news last year, he told fans he was "privately dealing" with the diagnosis and was taking precautionary steps to "resolve it".

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