Studying Time: 3 minutes

James Van Der Beek merely couldn’t keep away.

On Monday evening, the actor made an surprising video look at a charity occasion held on the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York Metropolis… beaming in just about above the stage on which his former Dawson’s Creek castmates had been answering questions and talking with the viewers amid a particular and highly-anticipated reunion.

Van Der Beek had beforehand stated he’d be unable to hitch the reunion resulting from sickness.

“I’ve been wanting ahead to this evening for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams stated she was placing it collectively,” Van Der Beek started.

“I can’t consider I’m not there. I can’t consider I don’t get to see my solid mates, my stunning solid in particular person.”

Van Der Beek opened up months in the past about his colorectal most cancers prognosis.

He continued yesterday:

“I need to stand on that stage and thank each single particular person within the theater for being right here tonight. From the solid to the crew to all people who’s doing something and has been so beneficiant, and particularly each single final certainly one of you – you’re the greatest followers on this planet.”

Dawson’s Creek premiered in 1998 on The CW and aired a complete of 128 episodes over six seasons.

It went off the air in 2003, however a lot of its stars (Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes) have gone on to very profitable post-show careers.

“Thanks for coming,” Van Der Beek went on in the course of the reunion.

“It’s simply completely humbling simply how a lot you probably did for this evening, and I simply need to say thanks. Thanks to each single particular person right here.

“And, clearly, on Dawson’s Creek, I had no understudy, however that is Broadway, and I wanted one. So we figured we’d attempt to discover anyone who had by no means understudied on this theater earlier than.”

With that, the 48-year outdated launched Lin-Manuel Miranda as his reunion stand-in.

In an Instagram publish on Sunday, the veteran actor wrote that he was “gutted” after creating two totally different abdomen viruses, though he assured followers that he would have an “understudy,” who he confirmed to be Miranda on the time.

Again in March, in the meantime, Van Der Beek spoke to Folks journal about his aforementioned prognosis.

“I’ve colorectal most cancers. I’ve been privately coping with this prognosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the help of my unimaginable household,” he stated again then, including:

“There’s purpose for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

Van Der Beek and his spouse Kimberly have six kids: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

Throughout the occasion — which possibly featured Jackson and Holmes exhibiting off their romance — Kimberly and the couple’s children joined the solid onstage to sing Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Need To Wait,” which served because the present’s theme music.

“Miracles do occur — they usually occur on a regular basis,” the star stated in November. “It’s scary on the onset. It’s overwhelming. Go straightforward on your self. You bought this.

“I’ve actually been so blessed with my spouse and children. I’ve bought quite a bit to stay for, and it’s a fantastic life.”