James Van Der Beek Left Speechless After Daughter's Big Moment

James Van Der Beek is celebrating a milestone that has left him feeling deeply emotional as a father and an actor.

His oldest daughter, Olivia, just turned 15, marking the same age he was portraying when he first stepped into the shoes of Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek.”

To make the moment even more powerful, Olivia sang the show’s theme song onstage at a charity reunion event, and Van Der Beek admitted in a heartfelt social media post that he was “left in awe.”

The special night happened on September 22 at New York City’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, where the cast of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited for a charity event benefiting F Cancer.

The evening included a live reading of the pilot episode and a performance of Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait,” the show’s famous theme song.

Taking center stage in a bright red dress, Olivia performed the ballad with confidence in front of the show’s stars, fans, and her family.

For James Van Der Beek, who could not attend the event due to illness, watching his daughter step into the spotlight was an unforgettable moment.

“To watch you stand there in that red dress, so confidently taking center stage amidst all those people I’ve known so long and cherish so deeply… I’m just left in awe,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

In his tribute, James Van Der Beek reflected on the emotional weight of Olivia turning 15.

“My oldest turned 15 today. Same age that Dawson was in the pilot,” he began.

From there, the actor opened up about how he has seen his daughter grow in ways that continue to surprise him.

He admitted that he used to joke that Olivia was “parent-proof,” but over the past year, he has realized that her maturity is very real.

“As I’ve watched you accelerate into so many big decisions, jump into so many activities, budget your time, do your homework and your hair (which, from my point of view, seem to require roughly the same amount of time & focus)… the less I think the parent-proof thing is a joke,” he continued.

The 48-year-old shared an example from a recent school sporting event, where Olivia accidentally gave him the wrong ticket information.

Instead of getting upset or deflecting blame, she calmly took responsibility.

“You immediately took responsibility. Told me it was your first time doing all of it. Apologized succinctly, then did what you could to fix it. I was more proud of how you handled the mess-up than if you’d done it all perfectly the start,” the proud dad noted.

Van Der Beek admitted that Olivia’s poise and maturity left him speechless, both as a parent and as someone who has grown up in the spotlight himself.

He praised her ability to balance activities, friendships, and responsibilities while still embracing her creative side.

The “Texas Rangers” star encouraged her to continue taking risks, even if things don’t always go perfectly.

“Keep taking big swings. Risk imperfection. Be true to who you are. Because, while only YOU will know exactly who your most authentic self will be, as someone who’s known you your whole life… I can guarantee you’re going to love her,” he added.

Van Der Beek ended the post with a simple but heartfelt birthday message, “Happy birthday, kiddo. I love you.”

While James Van Der Beek couldn’t be at the reunion in person due to what he described as “two stomach viruses,” he still joined virtually through a pre-recorded video.

In it, he told fans how much he had been looking forward to the event, calling it “humbling” to see the continued support for the show.

To fill his role in the live reading, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to play Dawson Leery, a casting choice Van Der Beek joked his kids would “consider an upgrade.”

Meanwhile, his wife Kimberly and their children attended the reunion in person and joined the cast onstage for a group performance of “I Don’t Want to Wait.”

The night was both a celebration of “Dawson’s Creek” and a fundraiser in honor of Van Der Beek.

For Van Der Beek, the event and Olivia’s performance carried extra weight given his recent health struggles.

In November 2024, the actor revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at just 46 years old.

He admitted the diagnosis came as a shock since he had no family history and had always lived an active, healthy lifestyle.

“I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,” he told PEOPLE. “But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time.”

When digestive symptoms persisted, he finally sought medical advice and learned the truth. Since then, he has undergone treatment and remains cautiously optimistic.

“I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great,” he said. While he didn’t declare himself in remission, he said he felt good and was focused on staying positive. “I have a lot to live for,” he shared.