James Van Der Beek Surprises ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion With Emotional Video Message

You don’t want to wait to see all the heartwarming moments from the “Dawson’s Creek” reunion! On Sept. 22, the cast of the late ’90s teen drama came together at Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode. The event raised funds for F Cancer, which is, “dedicated to advancing health equity through early detection and prevention programs, and by providing resources to navigate, manage, and cope with cancer.” James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson in the 90s’ classic, was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2024. The 48-year-old actor had to drop out of the reunion at the last minute due to illness, but thanks to a touching video message — and a surprise appearance by his family — James’ presence was absolutely felt.