James Van Der Beek shares surprise video message to fans after pulling out of Dawson’s Creek reunion amid cancer battle
James Van Der Beek was forced to pull out of the Dawson’s Creek cast reunion this week after falling ill amid his battle with colorectal cancer.
At the fan and charity event, held on Monday in his honour and to support F Cancer, his co-stars including Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson appeared on stage for a script reading.
But in a sweet surprise for diehard fans of the hit ’90s show, Van Der Beek, 48, appeared at the event in New York via a video message.
Watch the video above.
Before the event, the American actor revealed he had fallen ill with “two stomach viruses” amid his cancer battle.
“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,” he said in his video message, according to People.
Van Der Beek went on to thank fans for attending.
“Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you,” he said.
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Holmes, Williams and Jackson appeared on stage and held hands as they bowed.
His wife Kimberly was reportedly in attendance with their kids.
Dawson’s Creek cast: Then and now
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When he pulled out of the event, he shared his disappointment in an Instagram post with fans.
“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 wrote.
“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.”
“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,” he added, saying actor Lin-Manuel Miranda was stepping in for him to read his words.
“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.”
He revealed his shock cancer diagnosis to People last year.
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