James Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Dawson’s Creek reunion.
Kimberly, 43, took to Instagram on Tuesday, September 23, to share a selfie from the event with Busy Philipps, Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes. The four women leaned in close to each other and flashed huge smiles at the camera.
“Going deeper with these ladies has been so bittersweet,” Kimberly captioned the post. “They are magic, kind, gifted, heart forward and … sacred.”
Though Kimberly said she “missed my guy so” after James, 48, skipped the reunion due to illness, she added that the “support and the love has been healing to the core.”
“Will post more along the way. This was a fun spontaneous one as we all ran up and down several flights of stairs to our dressing rooms,” she concluded.
Philipps, 46, sent love to Kimberly in the comments.
“Love you and your entire beautiful family❤️,” she wrote.
Kimberly responded, “You took such a time in life, and made that entire audience laugh their asses off. God bless that perfection. ❤️.”
Fans also shared their support for the mom of six — who shares daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, and Gwendolyn, 6, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 2 — in the comments.
“I loved hearing how Michelle carefully planned this and has spoiled you and your kids with extras like upgraded bedding in the hotel you were in. That is fantastic. I just love it that she cares for you all simply because you are family to James, so basically family to her,” one fan wrote.
“Thinking of you, dear Kimberly. Thank you for loving our Dawson (James 🥹) and being there for him, your family, and his dear friends seen in this photo,” another user added. “I cannot imagine how hard this is, but your strength is palpable in your presence at his event- with your children no less!! You are wonderful. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Kiss James from all of us! We love him always and are praying for you all!! 💕”
Williams, 45, organized a one-night-only live reading of the Dawson’s Creek pilot on Broadway on Monday, September 22, to raise money for F Cancer amid James’ battle with stage III colon cancer. While James, who played Dawson Leery on the teen drama, was originally scheduled to attend the event, he announced the night before that he would have to miss it. Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in instead as his understudy.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,” James wrote via Instagram on Sunday, September 21. “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. Despite every effort … 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.”
James ultimately made a surprise appearance via a prerecorded video message played at the start of the event.
“I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person,” he said. “And I just want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you — you are the best fans in the world. Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here.”
