Illness forced “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek to bow out of Monday night’s cast reunion and cancer benefit, with “ridiculously overqualified” understudy Lin-Manuel Miranda now cast to take his spot.
Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams were set to do a table read of the “Dawson’s” 1998 pilot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.
The event benefits a nonprofit that encourages early testing for cancer and support for patients. Van Der Beek was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023.
“So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment,” the actor told his 1.6 million Instagram followers on Sunday.
“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.”
Instead, “ridiculously overqualified” replacement Miranda will be Dawson on stage in his place, Van Der Beek said.
The actor joked this his children will view the “Hamilton” creator as “an upgrade over me.”
“Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater,” Van Der Beek deadpanned of the theater, where “Hamilton” still plays. “So that’s convenient.”
Other “Dawson’s” actors Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Phillips are also set to reprise their roles in Monday’s benefit.
The teen drama, which aired for six seasons and 128 episodes, remains a favorite of younger Gen-Xers and older Millennials.
“Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family. I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin,” Van Der Beek said.
