As the Dawson’s Creek gang prepares to reunite for a good cause, the man of the hour will unfortunately miss out on the reunion.
James Van Der Beek, who starred as Dawson on The WB show for its six-season run from 1998-2003 and revealed his Stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis last year, announced he will not be able to participate in Monday’s live reading of the pilot episode benefitting F Cancer.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January…” he started in a statement on Instagram. “So 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.”
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Van Der Beek continued, “Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there. 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 Teen Choice Award winner announced his understudy, “a ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient.
“The role of ‘Dawson”’ usually played by James Van Der Beek… Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that,” wrote Van Der Beek. “Everyone 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… now you’re a demigod.”
Van Der Beek’s 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.
Last November, Van Der Beek revealed his diagnosis in an interview with People. “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he said. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”