{"id":173471,"date":"2025-09-22T07:26:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/173471\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T07:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T07:26:11","slug":"james-van-der-beek-drops-out-of-dawsons-creek-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/173471\/","title":{"rendered":"James Van Der Beek Drops Out Of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tAs the Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/a> gang prepares to reunite for a good cause, the man of the hour will unfortunately miss out on the reunion.<\/p>\n

\n\tJames Van Der Beek<\/a>, who starred as Dawson on The WB<\/a> show for its six-season run from 1998-2003 and revealed his Stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis<\/a> last year, announced he will not be able to participate in Monday\u2019s live reading of the pilot episode<\/a> benefitting F Cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis is the evening I\u2019d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January\u2026\u201d he started in a statement on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cSo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVan Der Beek continued, \u201cDespite every effort\u2026 I won\u2019t get to be there. I won\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Teen Choice Award winner announced his understudy, \u201ca ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he\u2019d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me\u2026 Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that\u2019s convenient.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe role of \u2018Dawson\u201d\u2019 usually played by James Van Der Beek\u2026 Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/a>. Can\u2019t believe I just got to type that,\u201d wrote Van Der Beek. \u201cEveryone 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\u2026 now you\u2019re a demigod.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tVan Der Beek\u2019s announcement comes after he was set last month for the reading at Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City, which will also reunite Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps.<\/p>\n

\n\tLast November, Van Der Beek revealed his diagnosis<\/a> in an interview with People. \u201cI have colorectal cancer. I\u2019ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s reason for optimism, and I\u2019m feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n