James Van Der Beek celebrates daughter turning the same age Dawson was after reunion absence
Actor marks Olivia’s 15th birthday and a full-circle moment from Dawson’s Creek, as he continues cancer treatment
James Van Der Beek marked his oldest daughter’s 15th birthday, noting that Olivia is the same age as Dawson Leery was in the pilot of Dawson’s Creek. The actor, who played Dawson on the six-season drama, shared the milestone on Instagram, highlighting the parallel as a personal full-circle moment while he continues treatment for colorectal cancer.
On Monday in New York City, Olivia and her younger sister Emilia took center stage at the Dawson’s Creek reunion, performing the show’s theme song, Paula Cole’s I Don’t Wanna Wait. Van Der Beek, who has been candid about his cancer battle, posted video of Olivia singing alongside her sister and said he was gutted to miss the event in person while undergoing treatment.
In a lengthy Instagram tribute, Van Der Beek celebrated Olivia’s growing independence and focus. He noted how she has accelerated into big decisions, juggled homework, and even her hair routine, joking that the latter demands a similar level of attention as other daily commitments. He also acknowledged that Olivia isn’t perfect and recently handled a mess-up with grace, telling her to keep taking big swings along the way.
The reunion itself also raised funds for Van Der Beek’s cancer treatment and for the F Cancer charity, underscoring the personal stake the cast and fans have in his ongoing health journey. Ahead of the event he had cautioned that two stomach viruses would prevent him from attending in person, though he sent a surprise video message to fans.
Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, attended with their children in spirit if not in person, while Olivia and Emilia shared a moment that resonated with fans online. The actor has spoken openly about his diagnosis, first revealing a colorectal cancer diagnosis in August 2023 and making his status public in November of the following year. He has described his outlook as cautiously optimistic and has said he will provide updates when he feels it is appropriate to share them publicly.
The Dawson’s Creek reunion reading included Lin-Manuel Miranda stepping in to play Van Der Beek’s role for the first episode, with Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps and others taking part. Philipps, visibly moved, tearfully reflected on Van Der Beek’s absence and the emotional impact of Olivia and Emilia singing the signature theme together. 
Beyond the reunion, the Van Der Beek family remains focused on supporting each other through his health journey, balancing the demands of family life in Texas after relocating from Los Angeles in 2020. The couple, who wed in August 2010, are parents to six children: Olivia, 15; Emilia, 9; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 11; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 2. The public discussion of his illness has kept fans connected to the family’s milestones, including Olivia’s milestone 15th birthday and the full-circle moment tied to Dawson’s Creek.