James Van Der Beek made a surprise appearance at the Dawson’s Creek reunion in NYC after dropping out due to illness. Having a Dawson’s Creek reunion without James Van Der Beek would be like reading Cosmopolitan without the sex. Luckily, you won’t have to suffer through either event, because James Van Der Beek made a surprise appearance at the Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion event. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my castmates, my beautiful cast in person,” he said in part. Thank you to every single person here.” James then went on to introduce his understudy, “a young up-and-comer” Lin-Manuel Miranda.