James Van Der Beek withdraws from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion benefit

James Van Der Beek has pulled out of the highly anticipated Dawson’s Creek reunion benefit after falling ill with a severe stomach virus.

The actor, best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the WB teen drama, announced the news on an Instagram post, late Sunday (September 21). “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.”

The benefit, scheduled for Monday (September 22) at New York City’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, will feature a live reading of the pilot episode script. Proceeds are set to support F Cancer as well as Van Der Beek himself, who revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. At the time, he told People he had been “privately dealing with this diagnosis and taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”

Despite his absence, Van Der Beek assured fans the show would continue with a surprise replacement. He revealed that Hamilton creator and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda would step in to play Dawson. “I DO have an understudy,” Van Der Beek said. “A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist … The role of ‘Dawson,’ usually played by James Van Der Beek, will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda.”

He added, “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.”