James Van Der Beek had a message for the “Dawson’s Creek” cast and fandom at Monday’s reunion.
While the actor, 48, had to drop out of the charity event due to a stomach illness, he did film a pre-recorded video in which he shared his sadness about having to miss the function.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,” Van Der Beek said. “I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.”
“And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight,” he continued. “From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.”
The “Varsity Blues” star also said it was “absolutely humbling” how much effort went into putting on the event, which benefitted F Cancer and Van Der Beek, who has been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since last year.
Van Der Beek then introduced his replacement, Lin-Manuel Miranda, jokingly calling the “Hamilton” star, 45, a “new up and comer.”
On Sunday, Van Der Beek told fans he was “gutted” that he has to miss the reunion because of “two stomach viruses.”
“Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there,” he wrote on Instagram. “I won’t 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.”
The rest of the “Dawson’s Creek” cast — Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps — did a live table reading of the teen drama’s 1998 pilot episode at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.
Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, attended the reunion with the couple’s children. During the event, Kimberly and her kids joined the cast onstage to sing the show’s theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want To Wait.”
Steven Spielberg, who is Dawson Leery’s (Van Der Beek) hero in the show, also appeared in a video message at the reunion.
“Dawson, you made it. Maybe someday, I will get to have a Dawson’s closet,” the Oscar-winning director said.
“Dawson’s Creek” alum Jason Moore directed the charity event. He also produced it alongside Williams, 45, her husband Thomas Kail, the show’s creator Kevin Williamson, Carl Ogawa, Maggie Brohn and Greg Berlanti.
Williamson, 60, told Variety last week that the reunion was Williams’ idea.
“I jumped at the idea,” he said. “She enlisted me, Thomas and Greg to help. From there, others joined the planning party. Jason Moore agreed to direct, and we were off and running.”
“Picking a date took some time but our entire ‘Dawson’s Creek’ family was excited to do this and very accommodating and generous with their time,” Williamson added.
