Summary:
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James Van Der Beek missed the Dawson’s Creek reunion due to illness, but Kimberly shared heartfelt gratitude in his absence.
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The one-night reunion served as a tribute and fundraiser for James, who is battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.
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Kimberly, moved by the night, expressed gratitude for the support and shared personal details, missing her husband.
As James misses the live event due to illness, Kimberly shares her gratitude and longing on behalf of the family
James Van Der Beek was unable to attend the Dawson’s Creek reunion in person on Sept. 22—but his spirit echoed through the night, and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, offered a heartfelt reflection in an emotional video shared afterward.
The one-night reunion, held at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, was presented in partnership with F Cancer and served both as a tribute and a fundraising event for James, who is battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.
In a surprise moment during the event, James appeared virtually via video, explaining he had to back out due to “two stomach viruses.” He lamented not being able to stand on stage and thank everyone in person, saying, “I can’t believe I’m not there… I don’t get to hug my cast mates … I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater.” His virtual presence also introduced Lin‑Manuel Miranda stepping in to read Dawson’s lines.
James Van Der Beek surprised fans with an emotional message during the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ reunion, after being forced to miss the event due to developing two stomach viruses.
“I wanted to stand on this stage and thank every single person in this theater,” the actor, who’s… pic.twitter.com/byYZy5rYKh
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 23, 2025
Kimberly’s Response: “I Miss My Husband”
Kimberly recorded her video from a hotel room, clearly moved by the gravity of the night. She began:
“I just got off with James, digesting the whole night tonight, and Michelle Williams was the brainchild of this night. It was such a gift.”
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She was effusive in gratitude, citing Williams, her husband Thomas Kail, director Jason Moore, creator Kevin Williamson, and the entire Dawson’s Creek cast.
“The entire cast has been beyond words. Words will never do justice for their support.”
She shared touching personal details, including that Mary‑Margaret Humes (who played Gail Leery) sends James cookies on his birthday every year. Kimberly also called Williams and Kail “exquisite, very angel humans.”
Toward the end, her emotion broke through:
“This night was so special to the whole family, and more importantly, like just feeling my husband fill the entire theater, and the love for him … It was a beautiful night, and I miss my husband. I can’t wait to go see him tomorrow.”
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While James remained home, the rest of the Van Der Beek family attended and took part in the evening’s events. Two of their daughters, Olivia (14) and Emilia (9), surprised the audience by performing solos of the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait.” The crowd responded with thunderous applause.
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In Kimberly’s Instagram posts, she also reflected on how the night “made so many of the kids’ dreams come true.”
Backstage, Busy Philipps shared her view of the night in her Instagram Story:
“Obviously, James not being able to get there was heartbreaking for a million different reasons, but I was so glad that Kimberly and all the kids were able.”
In James’ initial Instagram post, shared ahead of the event, he wrote:
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together … So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission.”He also announced that Miranda would step in for him and expressed regret for not being able to thank attendees in person.
Entertainment outlets documented the emotional resonance of the reunion: James’ virtual cameo, the cast’s reaction, and the audience singing along to the Dawson’s Creek theme.
