James Van Der Beek is celebrating a milestone that has left him feeling deeply emotional as a father and an actor.

His oldest daughter, Olivia, simply turned 15, marking the identical age he was portraying when he first stepped into the sneakers of Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek.”

To make the second much more highly effective, Olivia sang the present’s theme music onstage at a charity reunion occasion, and Van Der Beek admitted in a heartfelt social media submit that he was “left in awe.”

The particular night time occurred on September 22 at New York Metropolis’s Richard Rodgers Theatre, the place the solid of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited for a charity occasion benefiting F Most cancers.

The night included a dwell studying of the pilot episode and a efficiency of Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Need to Wait,” the present’s well-known theme music.

Taking middle stage in a brilliant pink costume, Olivia carried out the ballad with confidence in entrance of the present’s stars, followers, and her household.

For James Van Der Beek, who couldn’t attend the occasion on account of sickness, watching his daughter step into the highlight was an unforgettable second.

“To observe you stand there in that pink costume, so confidently taking middle stage amidst all these folks I’ve identified so lengthy and cherish so deeply… I’m simply left in awe,” he wrote in an Instagram submit.

In his tribute, James Van Der Beek mirrored on the emotional weight of Olivia turning 15.

“My oldest turned 15 right now. Identical age that Dawson was within the pilot,” he started.

From there, the actor opened up about how he has seen his daughter develop in ways in which proceed to shock him.

He admitted that he used to joke that Olivia was “parent-proof,” however over the previous 12 months, he has realized that her maturity could be very actual.

“As I’ve watched you speed up into so many huge selections, bounce into so many actions, price range your time, do your homework and your hair (which, from my viewpoint, appear to require roughly the identical period of time & focus)… the much less I feel the parent-proof factor is a joke,” he continued.

The 48-year-old shared an instance from a latest faculty sporting occasion, the place Olivia unintentionally gave him the incorrect ticket data.

As an alternative of getting upset or deflecting blame, she calmly took duty.

“You instantly took duty. Advised me it was your first time doing all of it. Apologized succinctly, then did what you may to repair it. I used to be extra happy with the way you dealt with the mess-up than when you’d performed all of it completely the beginning,” the proud dad famous.

Van Der Beek admitted that Olivia’s poise and maturity left him speechless, each as a mum or dad and as somebody who has grown up within the highlight himself.

He praised her capability to stability actions, friendships, and obligations whereas nonetheless embracing her inventive aspect.

The “Texas Rangers” star inspired her to proceed taking dangers, even when issues don’t all the time go completely.

“Hold taking huge swings. Threat imperfection. Be true to who you might be. As a result of, whereas solely YOU will know precisely who your most genuine self shall be, as somebody who’s identified you your entire life… I can assure you’re going to like her,” he added.

Van Der Beek ended the submit with a easy however heartfelt birthday message, “Comfortable birthday, kiddo. I like you.”

In it, he advised followers how a lot he had been trying ahead to the occasion, calling it “humbling” to see the continued help for the present.

To fill his position within the dwell studying, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to play Dawson Leery, a casting selection Van Der Beek joked his youngsters would “contemplate an improve.”

In the meantime, his spouse Kimberly and their youngsters attended the reunion in particular person and joined the solid onstage for a bunch efficiency of “I Don’t Need to Wait.”

The night time was each a celebration of “Dawson’s Creek” and a fundraiser in honor of Van Der Beek.