James Van Der Beek couldn’t be more proud of his daughter after she performed in his honor at the recent Dawson’s Creek reunion in New York .
Earlier this week, the cast joined together for the benefit event, which Van Der Beek was unable to attend after contracting a stomach virus. Although Van Der Beek couldn’t make it, his family still headed to the Big Apple to reunite with his former cast mates.
The event included a live reading of the show’s pilot episode — and proceeds benefited F Cancer, an organization close to Van Der Beek’s heart after he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year.
To close out the evening, the cast gathered for a special performance of the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait,” during which Van Der Beek’s daughters, Olivia and Emilia, joined the crew to sing along.
After the event, Van Der Beek took to Instagram to celebrate his daughter’s performance — particularly highlighting Olivia, who was also celebrating her 15th birthday.
“My oldest turned 15 today. Same age that Dawson was in the pilot,” Van Der Beek wrote. “To watch you stand there in that red dress, so confidently taking center stage amidst all those people I’ve known so long and cherish so deeply… I’m just left in awe.”
He went on to note her accomplishments over the past year and encourage her to do big things in the future.
“I’ve always joked that you came out ‘parent proof,’ but this last year, as I’ve watched you accelerate into so many big decisions, jump into so many activities, budget your time, do your homework and your hair (which, from my point of view, seem to require roughly the same amount of time & focus 😂)… the less I think the parent-proof thing is a joke,” Van Der Beek shared.
He added heartfelt message, reminding her to “keep taking big swings,” “keep dreaming big” and always “risk imperfection.”
“Most importantly, be true to who you are. Because, while only YOU will know exactly who your most authentic self will be, as someone who’s known you your whole life… I can guarantee you’re going to love her,” Van Der Beek concluded.
Happy birthday Olivia! You can view the entire video of her singing below.
About the author
Entertainment Writer, Parade
Alex Gurley is an entertainment journalist focused on celebrity news, music and pop culture. She has over a decade of experience as a writer, red carpet reporter and content creator.
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