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While James Van Der Beek<\/a> couldn\u2019t be at Monday\u2019s (September 22) Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/a> reunion benefit in person, he made a surprise virtual appearance to thank fans and announce his replacement.<\/p>\n According to People<\/a>, the actor, who played the titular Dawson Leery on the popular WB teen drama, appeared in a pre-recorded video that was projected onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City, where the original cast gathered for a live reading of the show\u2019s pilot script.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel\u00a0Michelle Williams\u00a0said she was putting it together,\u201d Van Der Beek said in the video, per People. \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m not there. I can\u2019t believe I don\u2019t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.\u201d<\/p>\n On Sunday evening (September 21), Van Der Beek took to Instagram<\/a> to announce he wouldn\u2019t be able to attend the event due to \u201ctwo stomach viruses\u201d knocking him \u201cout of commission.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDespite every effort\u2026 I won\u2019t get to be there,\u201d he added. \u201cI won\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Der Beek revealed his colorectal cancer diagnosis back in November 2024. At the time, he told People<\/a>, \u201cI\u2019ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.\u201d<\/p>\n In the video, Van Der Beek said he wanted to \u201cthank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who\u2019s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you \u2013 you are the best fans in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n He then introduced his \u201cunderstudy,\u201d Hamilton<\/a> star Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/a>, whom he joked his kids would consider an \u201cupgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Der Beek\u2019s wife,\u00a0Kimberly, and the couple\u2019s children attended the event, with Kimberly writing on Instagram, \u201c[It] was important to him we come!!\u201d<\/p>\n Kimberly and the children joined the cast onstage to sing Paula Cole\u2019s \u201cI Don\u2019t Want To Wait,\u201d the show\u2019s theme song, at Monday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n Those who took part in the live reading included original Dawson\u2019s Creek stars Michelle Williams<\/a>,\u00a0Katie Holmes<\/a>,\u00a0Joshua Jackson<\/a>, Mary Beth Peil,\u00a0John Wesley Shipp<\/a>,\u00a0Mary-Margaret Humes<\/a>, Nina Repeta,\u00a0Kerr Smith<\/a>,\u00a0Meredith Monroe<\/a>, and\u00a0Busy Philipps<\/a>. Proceeds from the event will benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek.<\/p>\n