Why James Van Der Beek’s Cancer Fight Feels More Urgent Now

When the cast of "Dawson’s Creek" reunited for the first time in 22 years, excitement buzzed through fans worldwide.

Yet one absence left a heavy shadow. James Van Der Beek, once the face of teen television as Dawson Leery, was missing.

Behind the scenes, the actor was confronting not only the illness that has defined his past year, but also the crushing disappointment of missing a moment he had long awaited.

The beloved 48-year-old star revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer.

His illness has reshaped his career, daily life, and even his most treasured opportunities. When the reunion benefit was announced, Van Der Beek was determined to attend.

However, just hours before stepping onto the stage, he was forced to pull out.

“This reunion benefit was something that James was waiting for as it offered him a change of pace, and to be able to see so many people that he loved was going to be so special,” a source close to him shared with the Daily Mail. “The fact that he was unable to do it was a major disappointment.”

Instead, his wife Kimberly and their six children stood in his place.

In a deeply emotional moment, two of his daughters sang Paula Cole’s "I Don’t Wanna Wait," the song forever tied to the show.

“It was a moment where his illness won briefly, but to see how the event made [fans, as well as] his family feel and to see his daughters sing was such an incredible moment,” the source added. “It gave him a lot of happiness.”

Although James Van Der Beek couldn’t appear live, he sent a prerecorded message.

On the big screen, fans were moved not just by his words but also by his visibly weakened appearance. His frame looked frail, and the image sparked concern across social media.

The source acknowledged the difficulty but insisted it was not without hope.

“He’s taking it all step by step, and though he looks frail, if he wasn’t doing better than expected, you wouldn’t have seen his family there,” they shared.

The message was clear. Van Der Beek may be struggling, but his presence, even though virtual, was a testament to his resilience.

The insider added, “This journey is going to take a while, but he is being positive and there is optimism that he will end up actually being OK.”

Hours before the reunion, Van Der Beek updated fans directly.

On Instagram, he explained his absence with heartbreaking honesty. He admitted he was “gutted” that “two stomach viruses” knocked him out of commission and kept him grounded "at the worst possible moment."

“Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there. I won’t 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,” he wrote.

In his prerecorded video, he said, “I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together. 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.”

He continued with deep gratitude for the event and its supporters, saying he wished he could have stood on stage to personally thank everyone in the theater, from cast and crew to fans. He also praised their generosity and called them the best supporters in the world.

Van Der Beek concluded by expressing how deeply humbled he felt by the overwhelming support for the event and extended heartfelt gratitude to every single person who made it possible.

For those closest to him, Van Der Beek’s strength lies not only in medical treatment but in his outlook.

His prognosis, insiders admit, “isn’t the greatest,” yet he remains determined. The source explained, “Van Der Beek is fighting and feels hopeful that his cancer battle is something he will actually win.”

Even when days grow difficult, his spirit doesn’t falter. “And while there are certainly bad days,” the source revealed, “he always approaches everything with a smile on his face.”

His optimism extends into the future as the insider noted, “He would love nothing more than to have another one of these reunions where he is 100 percent healthy the next time they do it. He sees what he missed and doesn’t want to miss another one.”

The reunion itself was a testament to the enduring love fans have for "Dawson’s Creek."

Cast members Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams joined forces onstage, supported by Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps.

Together, they read the pilot episode to benefit F Cancer.

Though absent, Van Der Beek left fans with a sense of presence. His humor, too, shone through when he joked about being replaced for the evening.

He said, “And, obviously, on Dawson’s Creek, I had an understudy, but this is a problem... and we figured trying to find somebody who had never understudied in this theater before.”

With that, he introduced Lin-Manuel Miranda as his stand-in, quipping that his children might see the Broadway legend as an “upgrade.”

The laughter mixed with emotion reminded everyone that while illness may take a physical toll, it cannot erase the charisma, resilience, or gratitude of James Van Der Beek.