Health
James Van Der Beek Misses Reunion for Health
Health Points
- James Van Der Beek could not attend the “Dawson’s Creek” reunion due to two stomach viruses.
- The actor was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to fill his role at the event benefiting F Cancer.
James Van Der Beek shared with fans that he had to miss the highly anticipated “Dawson’s Creek” reunion because he came down with “two stomach viruses.”
The event, organized by Michelle Williams, brought cast members together at New York City’s Richard Rodgers Theatre for a reading to support both F Cancer and Van Der Beek himself.
“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,” he wrote on Instagram.
Having recently revealed his diagnosis of Stage 3 colorectal cancer, Van Der Beek has been open about how his health journey has affected him.
He was scheduled to join co-stars but instead was replaced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the acclaimed creator of “Hamilton.”
“But 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),” Van Der Beek wrote.
“The role of ‘Dawson,’ usually played by James Van Der Beek…Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda,” he added, expressing gratitude and excitement for Miranda and the support of his fans.
Van Der Beek continues to advocate for cancer awareness and has spoken openly about the realities of living with his diagnosis.
“I’m just on the journey. … It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life,” he shared with TODAY.com.
He is also staying active in his career with a new TV series, highlighting the importance of meaningful work during health challenges.
“The greatest thing about work is cancer doesn’t exist between action and cut,” he said.
Stay informed and inspired as you follow James Van Der Beek’s journey and the continued fight for cancer awareness and support.
