James Van Der Beek Makes Surprise Appearance at Dawson’s Creek Reunion

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James Van Der Beek didn’t want to wait for this reunion to go on without him. 

After revealing he couldn’t make the scheduled *Dawson’s Creek* cast charity event on September 22nd because he was battling stomach viruses while undergoing treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer, he unexpectedly showed up for fans in a special video message.

James said in a pre-recorded video message, played at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City, that he was disappointed to miss being with everyone. He wished he could be there in person to see his fellow cast members and personally thank everyone in the audience for coming.

The actor, best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the popular teen show that aired from 1998 to 2003, shared how excited he was to revisit the show’s beginning. He said he’d been anticipating the night-when the original cast would read through the script for the very first episode-for months.

James thanked everyone involved, especially Michelle Williams, who helped organize and also starred in the project. He also expressed his appreciation to his fans, calling them “the best in the world.”

James didn’t leave fans disappointed, bringing in Lin-Manuel Miranda as a replacement. Miranda joined Michelle, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps to recreate the magic of Capeside for fans.

James, who announced his cancer diagnosis last November, wasn’t able to attend in person. However, the former *Varsity Blues* star did share his thoughts on how special it was that the event was happening on Broadway.

I have to admit something: I’ve never been a huge movie buff. I was always more into theater, and anyone who’s tried to show off with a rare movie quote has quickly figured that out. So, I think it’s perfect that we’re doing this event in a Broadway theater.

James Van Der Beek was accompanied by his wife, Kimberly, and their children – Olivia, 14; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 11; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 2. The whole family was there and even joined the cast on stage to perform Paula Cole’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait.”

After everything happened, I’ve been thinking about how people responded, and honestly, it meant the world to me – Kimberly called it ‘such a gift,’ and I completely agree. It really was.

The 42-year-old posted on Instagram about a wonderful night with her family, especially how happy she was to see so much love and support for her husband in the theater.

Now, keep reading to take a swim down memory lane with these Dawson’s Creek secrets.

While Fox was first to pick up Dawson’s Creek, it subsequently dumped the teen drama. 

At the 2015 ATX TV Festival, the show’s creator, Kevin Williamson, explained that executives were already having trouble with the show *Party of Five* and didn’t want to take on another series.

But that paved the way for The WB to pick it up two years later.

Although Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait” is famously known as the theme song for *Dawson’s Creek*, the show’s creators initially preferred Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket.”

Alas, they couldn’t land the rights, what a jagged little pill.

Dawson. Pacey. Joey. Not names you hear every day. So how did Williamson come up with them? 

In a 2018 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, James Van Der Beek explained that the town of Dawson came from a real place he and his friends frequented as children. He said the character Pacey was named after someone he knew – a friend of a friend – and he’d always liked the unusual name.

The show’s creator, Williamson, chose the name Josephine because it felt feminine but could also be shortened to the more masculine nickname Joey, reflecting the character’s personality.

Remember Dawson’s infamous “walk the dog” line in the pilot?

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Apparently, back in ’98, the network totally freaked out about using *the* word – you know, *that* word – so Williamson had to sneakily use a different phrase instead. It’s just amazing how he worked around it, honestly! He was a genius for finding a way to hint at it without actually *saying* it. I’ve studied every interview, and it’s fascinating to learn all the behind-the-scenes stuff they couldn’t show on TV!

Before Katie Holmes became known as America’s sweetheart, Blake Lively was very close to getting the part.

The character of Joe was originally conceived as a tomboy, and many of the actresses auditioning brought that energy to their performances. We almost cast Selma Blair, who gave a really powerful and heartfelt reading, according to creator Williamson.

But when Williamson saw Holmes on video-with “those big eyes”-he immediately knew they’d found the right person for the role of Joey.

Williamson liked Joshua Jackson so much, he didn’t care what role the Mighty Ducks alum played.

I was immediately drawn to Josh Jackson’s acting ability – he could convincingly play either Dawson or Pacey, as I told *The Hollywood Reporter*. However, the network felt he wasn’t right for the role of Dawson, and they were correct. That’s when I decided he would be perfect as Pacey, because I was determined to have him on the show regardless.

In 1999, an 18-year-old Charlie Hunnam auditioned for a drama on The WB. Although he wasn’t cast in the role, he met Katherine Towne during the audition process.

Hunnam and his wife eloped to Las Vegas just three weeks after meeting, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2002. He later described the three years they were married as “terrible, painful, and expensive.”

Dawson’s Creek became so popular that American Eagle inked a deal in 2000 to outfit the actors.

Throughout the third season, the show’s characters were primarily dressed in American Eagle clothing. The cast also promoted the brand in ad campaigns, which helped American Eagle earn over $105 million in 2001.

When James Van Der Beek was first cast, the studio wanted him to change his hair.

He remembered telling The Daily Beast in 2012 that an advertisement for the movie *The Devil’s Own*, starring Brad Pitt, sparked his iconic first-season haircut. Apparently, the ad asked, ‘What about Brad Pitt’s haircut?’ and he decided to get the same style.

Early in the series, Holmes was in a relationship with Jackson, before Pacey and Joey started developing feelings for each other.

In a 1998 interview with *Rolling Stone*, Holmes revealed she had a romantic relationship with someone the previous year, widely believed to be Michael Jackson. She described falling in love for the first time, calling it an unforgettable experience she deeply cherishes. She also expressed gratitude that they’ve remained close friends, joking that their current relationship is similar to the platonic bond between characters Dawson and Joey from the TV show *Dawson’s Creek*.

I was so touched by what she said about him. She mentioned he’s been working in this industry forever, and she really credits him with helping her out. She genuinely respects him – not just as someone she works with, but as a true friend too. It was lovely to hear.

When Kerr Smith agreed to play Joey’s boyfriend on the show, he didn’t realize the character would later come out as gay and be featured in what was, at the time, the first gay kiss ever shown on television.

I always hoped Jack would publicly come out as gay, but I didn’t even discuss it with Smith,” Williamson explained at the ATX TV Festival. “I wanted the audience to fall in love with Jack first, then have him come out and show how Joey would react-and ultimately, that would bring her and Dawson back together.

Interestingly, Williamson has shared that he sees a part of himself in every character on the show, even Jack.

He explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that every character in the show contains a piece of himself. He’d recently come out to his parents in his 20s and wanted to portray that experience – and that part of his identity – through a character on the show.

The episode where Jack came out was based on a real-life story and was written with help from Greg Berlanti, one of the show’s producers.

Berlanti shared a story about a friend who was unintentionally revealed to be gay, as he had written a love poem that everyone recognized was about a man, according to EW.

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps have been best friends ever since they first met on the set of *Dawson’s Creek*, and they remain close to this day.

In 2016, while at a screening of *Manchester by the Sea*, Williams told *People* magazine how much she loves her close friend. She explained that this friend proves true love doesn’t have to be romantic – that the most important person in your life doesn’t need to be a partner. They often attended red carpet events together.

Philipps is also godmother to Williams’ daughter Matilda Ledger, who was born in 2005.

The episode where Dawson lost his virginity was a major event, and actor Van Der Beek marked the occasion by bringing a thoughtful gift to the set on filming day.

I’ll never forget celebrating with the crew – it was the night Dawson finally lost his virginity! That’s what he shared with The Daily Beast, and honestly, it was a moment everyone remembered. It just felt like a milestone we all celebrated together.

Before becoming famous on *One Tree Hill*, Chad Michael Murray appeared on *Dawson’s Creek* as Charlie, who dated both Jen and Joey.

Charlie was quite sociable, but Murray didn’t seem to connect with many people during his initial time in North Carolina, where *OTH* was later filmed.

At a Paley panel discussion in 2009, Philipps publicly called the person “a douche,” and then added, “I’m not too concerned about damaging my relationship with CMM.”

Van Der Beek also mentioned that Chad Michael Murray has improved a lot. After the panel, Jennifer Philipps tweeted that she might have been too critical of him, but then decided she probably wasn’t.

Murray, on the other hand, has remained quiet about the situation, stating in 2015 that he gained valuable lessons from it.

When I joined the cast of *Dawson’s Creek*, I was lucky enough to learn from actors who were a few years ahead of me, like Michelle, James, Katie, and Josh. They had already been working for five or six years-even longer-and were always willing to help me learn the ropes. I was completely new to the technical side of things, like lighting, and I really appreciate them taking the time to show me everything I needed to know.

Over the years, *Dawson’s Creek* featured a surprising number of well-known actors – some already famous, and others who would become huge stars. These included Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Julie Bowen, Scott Foley, Jensen Ackles, Hilarie Burton, Rachel Leigh Cook, Ali Larter, and Oliver Hudson.

Young Americans was a brief television series that followed Will Krudski (played by Rodney Scott), a friend of Pacey, and his experiences with fellow students at Rawley Academy, a boarding school.

Also starring Ian Somerhalder and Kate Bosworth, it was canceled after just one season.

The central romantic conflict of the show ended in the 2003 finale when Joey ultimately chose Pacey.

Originally, the show’s creator, Williamson, planned for a different couple to end up together. However, while writing the final episode, he decided that pairing wouldn’t fit the overall story he was trying to tell.

He shared at the ATX TV Festival that he aimed to create a fresh take on teen dramas, one that felt genuine and explored the idea of soul mates in a realistic way. He explained that the story concluded as it did to show the characters finding happiness and becoming a family, with everyone achieving their desired outcomes and a sense of fulfillment.

He switched his decision right before it was finalized, and the outcome became a widely discussed event. Williamson later revealed that his mother, who supported the opposing team, wasn’t pleased with his choice.

The final episode jumped forward five years and showed the group coping with the heartbreaking loss of Jen.

The death of a main character was meant to mark the definitive end of the group’s adolescence. According to creator Kenny Williamson, that’s why Jen Lindley died – to force the characters to confront loss and fully transition into adulthood. He saw it as the ultimate, and necessary, coming-of-age lesson.

Some of the executive producers who get their start on Dawson’s? 

Julie Plec (creator of *The Vampire Diaries* and *The Originals*), Greg Berlanti (known for shows like *Everwood*, *Arrow*, *The Flash*, and *Riverdale*, as well as numerous films), Rob Thomas (*Veronica Mars*, *iZombie*), Jenny Bicks (*Sex and the City*), Anna Fricke (*Being Human*), Dana Baratta (*Jessica Jones*), and a host of other talented writers contributed to the project.

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2025-09-23 16:18