Dawson's Creek Reunion Proceeds Without James Van Der Beek Due to Illness

The cast of the beloved 1998-2003 teen drama "Dawson's Creek" reunited for a one-night-only charity event featuring a live reading of the pilot episode, but James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery, was unable to attend due to illness. Van Der Beek, diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year, was sidelined by two stomach viruses at the worst possible moment, preventing him from participating. Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of "Hamilton," stepped in to read the role of Dawson, bringing humor and star power to the event while supporting Van Der Beek and cancer awareness. The reunion, organized in part by Michelle Williams, aimed to raise money for the F Cancer charitable organization and celebrate the show's legacy with the original cast members present. Van Der Beek expressed his gratitude and asked fans to send love to his family as he followed the event from his bed in Austin. The occasion was marked by nostalgia, community support, and a poignant reminder of Van Der Beek's ongoing health battle.