James Van Der Beek has addressed the reaction to his recent Dawson’s Creek reunion appearance after viewers noticed a dramatic change in his look. The 48-year-old actor, who has stage 3 colorectal cancer, shocked fans of the teen drama at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City on September 22 when he made a virtual appearance at the event in aid of the F Cancer charity. Although the cast reunited for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode, Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery, was unable to join them in person after he was struck with a stomach virus.
Van Der Beek later acknowledged that many viewers were concerned about his health after the video aired in the venue, explaining that the illness caused him to lose a noticeable amount of weight. Before the year ended, on NBC’s Today show , he told anchor Craig Melvin, “I’d lost so much weight because of the stomach virus, yeah,” before reassuring fans directly.
“No, it was not cancer-related, although with cancer, everything’s like, ‘Why don’t we super size that stomach virus?’”
While the actor wasn’t able to attend the reunion, his family attended instead. His wife, Kimberly, and their six children were there in his place, alongside the show’s cast members Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson.
Reflecting on the moment, the actor shared that the crowd’s support ultimately became something unexpectedly emotional and meaningful for his family. “As crushed as I was not being able to go to that Dawson’s Creek reunion, my family got to go,” he said. “And I was Zooming in on that night, and they got a standing ovation just for taking their seats.”
Van Der Beek added that the love from fans felt like it was redirected to the people closest to him. “And all that love that would have otherwise been directed at me was directed at my family. It was just one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever gotten to witness. I’m just so grateful to the fans for doing that.”
At the end of the year, it was also revealed that Van Der Beek had been auctioning off Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues props in order to help alleviate the cost of his health struggles. In November 2024, he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after privately undergoing treatment following a 2023 diagnosis.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine about the sale, he explained, “I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it's clear that the time is now.”
He continued, “While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore’s auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.”
The items from Van Der Beek’s personal collection were available through Propstore’s Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, held from December 5 to December 7, and included wardrobe pieces, props, and set memorabilia.
One standout item was the necklace Dawson gave Joey for prom in Dawson’s Creek, which was estimated to fetch between $26,400 and $52,800, while Van Der Beek’s costume from the show’s pilot episode, which aired during the series’ run from 1998 to 2003, was expected to sell for nearly $4,000. The auction also included items from the 1999 film Varsity Blues, including his film-worn West Canaan Coyotes hat and cleats.