Why James Van Der Beek Dropped Out of Dawson’s Creek Reunion

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James Van Der Beek‘s health is keeping him on the sidelines.

The 48-year-old actor unfortunately won’t be able to attend the upcoming *Dawon’s Creek* cast reunion on September 22nd. He recently came down with two stomach viruses while continuing to fight stage 3 colorectal cancer.

He shared on Instagram on September 21st that he’d been eagerly anticipating this event ever since his former colleague, Michelle Williams, first mentioned planning it back in January. He was incredibly disappointed, though, because two stomach viruses made him sick and unable to attend at the worst possible time.

He said, “No matter how hard I tried, I won’t be able to make it. I won’t be able to get on stage and thank everyone who supported me, both by being there and by fighting alongside me against cancer, when I really needed them.”

A special one-time event will bring together original cast members from the WB’s *Dawson’s Creek*, including Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Phillips. They’ll be doing a live table read of the show’s first episode at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, all to raise money for the F Cancer foundation.

Although James won’t be able to participate in the event, he announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda from *Hamilton* will be reading in his place.

I do have an understudy, and he’s amazing-probably even better than me, to be honest! My kids would probably like him more, and he already knows how to get to the theater, which is a huge relief.

James announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda will be taking on the role of ‘Dawson,’ traditionally played by James Van Der Beek, and jokingly expressed his disbelief at writing that sentence.

The father of six children – Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 3 – and husband to Kimberly, then wished everyone well at the reunion.

He asked everyone to share the love in the room, especially with his family. He explained he’d be watching from his hospital bed in Austin, feeling all the positive energy. He also expressed his gratitude to Lin-Manuel Miranda, saying Miranda was already a hero to his children and now seemed like a legend.

The father of six children-Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 3-who he shares with his wife, Kimberly, then wished everyone attending the reunion all the best.

He asked everyone to share the love in the room, and asked they send some to his family. He’s recovering in a bed in Austin and will be watching with a huge smile! And honestly, he said @lin_manuel has always been a hero to his kids, but now he’s practically a legend to them. It was so sweet to hear!

Kimberly commented that she and her children would still be at the reading, explaining it meant a lot to the person hosting it that they be there.

James has shared how grateful he is to continue working despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2023, a diagnosis he publicly announced in November 2024.

James recently shared with *Today* that what he loves most about working on a project is how it provides a welcome escape from difficult thoughts. He described it as a really enjoyable experience, highlighting the fantastic cast, crew, and overall talent involved.

Dealing with cancer now occupies all of his time and energy. He’s had to adjust to a slower pace, making rest his main priority, and essentially treating self-care as a full-time commitment.

I’m still learning and growing,” James explained. “It’s an ongoing process, and likely will be for the rest of my life.

Keep reading for more stars who have been open about their cancer battles…

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Even after receiving difficult news, he shared in February 2025 – for the third time – that his cancer was in remission thanks to successful surgery and treatment.

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In December 2024, the star of *The Golden Bachelor* announced he had been diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a type of bone cancer.

Gerry told *People* magazine that there’s no cure for his condition, which has deeply affected every choice he makes. He described the initial diagnosis as devastating, feeling like a huge weight had fallen on him, and admitted he went through a period of denial, struggling to accept it.

The actor, famous for his work in *The Boys* and *Supernatural*, announced on February 3, 2023, that he had successfully fought prostate cancer and was now in remission.

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In September 2018, the actress known for *Desperate Housewives* publicly shared that she had overcome anal cancer. In an Instagram post, she explained that sharing the news, along with a photo of herself, made her feel incredibly relieved, free, and authentic.

Two-time Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman successfully completed cancer treatment, and his representative confirmed to TopMob News that doctors have declared him cured after surgery.

Hugh Jackman, known for his role in X-Men, received treatment for his third case of basal cell carcinoma in 2014. Following the treatment, his representative confirmed to TopMob News that he has fully recovered.

As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with some health stuff. Back in April of 2023, I had a couple of biopsies for basal cell carcinoma. It really got me thinking, and I wanted to share a friendly reminder as we head into warmer weather: please, please wear sunscreen! It’s so important for protecting your skin, and I want everyone to enjoy the summer safely.

The former star of *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills* marked a year of being cancer-free in January. She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2013 and had a complete hysterectomy as treatment.

Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 

The British celebrity chef recently had surgery for skin cancer. He shared photos showing the stitches – a line from below his ear to his jaw – before covering the area with a bandage.

Gordon shared on Instagram in August 2025 that he was thankful for the amazing team at The Skin Associates who quickly removed his Basal Cell Carcinoma. He also reminded everyone to wear sunscreen this weekend.

“I promise you it’s not a face lift,” he added. “I’d need a refund…”

The actress known for her role in *Avengers: Age of Ultron* fought ovarian cancer at 25 and later had two children with her husband, Taran Killam, despite the challenges.

A television personality shared that he had surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has been cancer-free ever since.

The cohost of *Dancing with the Stars* had successful surgery to remove thyroid cancer. The mother of four shared on Twitter, “Thank you for all the well wishes! I’m home recovering and resting.”

Oh. My. God. I was practically glued to my phone, and then BAM! My doctor called on a Saturday morning – a SATURDAY! – and told me I was cancer-free! I immediately ran to Twitter to share the amazing news. I seriously just typed ‘MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FRETopMob!!!! #wootothemotherfkinhoo’ because I was just SO unbelievably happy I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence! It was the best moment of my life!

After treatment and a double mastectomy, the star of *Up All Night* received a clean bill of health and is now cancer-free.

The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

I was so relieved to hear that the actress had a suspicious mole removed and thankfully, it turned out to be cancerous. She shared back in October 2011 that her husband really encouraged her to get it checked, and I’m so glad he did! It just goes to show how important it is to pay attention to any changes in your skin and get things looked at promptly.

A man from Scotland is doing well after doctors successfully removed a cancerous mole from under his right eye.

The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a “minimally invasive” lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer “beat.”

The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.

After having skin cancer removed from under his left eye in 2008, the longtime CNN journalist almost certainly protects his skin with sunscreen when he’s outdoors.

The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.

The actor from *7th Heaven* was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 28 years old. Now 50, he’s doing well!

The popular actress, known for her role on *ER*, stepped away from *Parenthood* in 2009 to battle breast cancer. Thankfully, her treatment worked, and she quickly returned to public events.

I’ve been a huge fan of Sharon Osbourne for years, and I was so shocked to learn she battled colon cancer back in 2002, right while filming *The Osbournes*! What really struck me was how, even while going through such a tough time with chemotherapy, she used her experience to really push the importance of getting regular check-ups. Thankfully, she beat it and was given a clean bill of health the next year, which was such a relief to hear. She’s a true inspiration!

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As someone who’s always admired incredible resilience, I’m constantly inspired by stories like this one. This phenomenal cyclist faced a really tough battle with stage-four testicular cancer, but didn’t let it define him. He fought back, and then went on to achieve something truly extraordinary – winning seven Tour de France titles in a row! It’s a powerful reminder that even after huge setbacks, incredible things are possible.

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2025-09-22 15:48