James Van Der Beek‘s Dawson’s Creek co-stars have shared their heartbreak that he was forced to miss the show’s reunion this week.
The cast of the beloved show reunited at New York’s Richard Rogers Theatre on Monday night in collaboration with F Cancer for a live read through of their pilot episode.
But lead star James was forced to pull out of the event after falling ill during his treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer.
James’s wife Kimberly and their six children instead made a surprise appearance on stage, whilst the actor pre recorded videos to play during the show.
Kimberly has shared photos with her husband’s co-stars Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps as she thanked them for their support on the night admitting: ‘Missed my guy so. But the support and the love has been healing to the core.’
Meanwhile, Katie, who played James’ love interest Joey Potter on the show, shared her own memories of the night as she paid tribute to her ‘everlasting bond’ with her co-stars.
‘I will never find the words for what these three beautiful humans mean to me,’ the actress wrote alongside a video of her, Michelle and Joshua Jackson on stage. ‘For our shared journey. For our everlasting bond.’
James Van Der Beek’s Dawson’s Creek co-stars and his family have shared their heartbreak that he was forced to miss the show’s reunion this week (James’ wife Kimberly pictured with Busy Philipps, Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes
JJames was forced to pull out of the event after falling ill during his treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer but pre recorded videos played during the show
‘James, Josh, Michelle… from April 1997—- I love you. James, you got this. We got you. To everyone who supported us from the beginning and who continue to support James and his beautiful family, we thank you. Thank you for last night.’
James replied to the post, commenting: ‘Love you! Thank you for being you.’
Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda was drafted in as a last minute replacement for James for the read through, after a call from his close friend Michelle and her husband Thomas Kail.
The Broadway icon shared his own collection of photos from the night, posing for snaps with James’ family as he gushed about ‘the immense privilege of being present,’ and revealed he had been sending James photos ‘all through rehearsal and the evening’.
‘[Thomas] Kail called over the weekend: James caught a virus and was unable to travel to NY for the Dawson’s Creek reunion Monday,’ Lin-Manuel explained.
‘Now I’m godfather to Tommy and Michelle’s kid, so filling in for Dawson last minute falls under general coverage.’
‘What happened next was for me, more like being in an episode of Quantum Leap; I had the immense privilege of being present as an understudy so that people’s love for James, his family, and this incredible cast and show could reverberate all around the Rodgers and the world.’
One of the night’s most emotional moments came in the finale when James and Kimberly’s daughters Olivia, 14, and Emilia, eight, were cheered on by the cast as they sang the poignant words on the verses of ‘I Don’t Wanna Wait’ by Paula Cole.
Kimberly thanked her husband’s co-starsfor their support on the night admitting: ‘Missed my guy so. But the support and the love has been healing to the core’
Katie, who played James’ love interest Joey Potter on the show, shared her own memories of the night as she paid tribute to her ‘everlasting bond’ with her co-stars
Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda was drafted in as a last minute replacement for James and posted photos from rehearsals which he told fans he had sent to James on the night
A round of applause broke out as Kimberly then arrived on stage with her other children Annabel, ten, Gwendolyn, six, and sons Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah, three, for the chorus.
Olivia, taking to the stage sang the lyrics: ‘So open up your morning light, and say a little prayer for I.’
Emilia then joined in, singing: ‘You know that if we are to stay alive then see the peace in every eye.’
In fan videos circulating on social media, Meredith Monroe, who played Andie on the show, was seen wiping away tears during the song whilst an emotional Michelle, who starred as Jen, wrapped her arms around her onscreen grandmother Mary Beth Peil.
James intended to join his co-stars at the event but was forced to pull out days before after suffering from two stomach viruses.
He instead surprised fans with a virtual appearance, appearing in a pre-recorded video as the entire cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited for the first time in 22 years.
Katie, Michelle, Mary Beth and Mary-Margaret Humes (who played Dawson’s mom Gail) were captured watching James’ video message in rehearsals
Kimberly shared a sweet photo of her children meeting Dawson’s actress Mary Beth Peil, who played Grams on the show
Lin-Manuel posed for a selfie with Joshua Jackson, who played Pacey on the show
The cast of the beloved show reunited at New York’s Richard Rogers Theatre in collaboration with F Cancer for a live read through of their pilot episode
Dawson’s Creek aired from 1998 through 2003 on The WB and garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air
‘I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,’ James — who portrayed the character of Dawson Leery in the teen drama — shared in the video.
‘I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.’
Kimberly thanked Michelle Williams for organising the show as she shared an emotional video.
Revealing that she’d just got off the phone with James to ‘digest’ the night, Kimberly explained how ‘Michelle Williams was the brainchild of this night and it was such a gift’.
‘Just feeling my husband fill the entire theatre and the love for him. I will be unwinding this one for awhile. Thank you for the love and support and the prayers. It was a beautiful night and I miss my husband.’
The entire cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited for the first time in 22 years. Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams and others joined forces at the Richard Rodgers Theatre for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer
James and Kimberly are parents to Olivia, 14, Emilia, eight, Annabel, ten, Gwendolyn, six, Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah,three
Dawson’s Creek aired from 1998 through 2003 on The WB and garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air, such as a Teen Choice Award in 2000 for TV – Choice Drama.
The show followed the group from high school through college in the sleepy town of Capeside.
Last year in November, James revealed his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis.
At the time, the star said that he had been ‘privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it with the support’ from his loved ones.
