We first met Dawson, Jen, Joey, and Pacey way back in 1998.

The Dawson’s Creek cast, then and now: What became of the teen drama’s stars over 25 years later

We first met Dawson, Jen, Joey, and Pacey way back in 1998.

By Madeline Boardman

Madeline Boardman

Madeline Boardman is a former digital features director at **. She left EW in 2017.

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and Mary Sollosi

Mary Sollosi is the former assistant features editor at **. She left EW in 2022.

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February 11, 2026 3:45 p.m. ET

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Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, and James Van Der Beek on 'Dawson's Creek'. Credit:

James Minchin/Columbia TriStar Television/Courtesy Everett

*Dawson's Creek*'s doe-eyed approach to teen heartache, longing, and optimism still resonates decades after the WB series ended in 2003. As ** noted in 2018, it deserves credit for cultivating a new era in teen TV.

Created in 1998 by Kevin Williamson, who would go on to create the *Vampire Diaries *and pen several *Scream* entries, the drama starred James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson as lovelorn teenagers in the New England town of Capeside. Across six seasons and 128 episodes, viewers grew alongside the core four as they each learned about heartache the hard way.

“It was really wholesome and it was really Americana,” said Greg Berlanti, a former *Dawson's Creek* showrunner, as part of EW's reunion coverage in 2018. “I think if people want a perfect snapshot of what it was like to come of age in the ’90s and be a young person in that moment, *Dawson’*s will always be a time capsule of that.”**

On Feb. 11, 2026, fans mourned the loss of Van Der Beek, who died at age 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

Below, see the *Dawson's Creek* cast, then and now.

James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leary)

James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery on 'Dawson's Creek'; Van Der Beek attends the Los Angeles premiere of 'Overcompensating' at Hollywood Palladium on May 14, 2025.

The WB; Phillip Faraone/WireImage

After popping up in episodes of *Clarissa Explains It All* and *As the World Turns*, James Van Der Beek led *Dawson's Creek* as title character Dawson Leary, appearing on the show for the entirety of its five-year run. During that time, Van Der Beek also hit the big screen in *Varsity Blues* (1999) and *The Rules of Attraction* (2002).

After the show wrapped, the actor guested on some of the most popular shows on TV, including *Criminal Minds*, *Ugly Betty*, *One Tree Hill*, and *How I Met Your Mother.* He also took leading roles on *Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 *and *CSI: Cyber*.

He went on to play small roles in Alexander Payne's *Downsizing* (2017) and Justin Simeon's *Bad Hair* (2020), and also appeared on several episodes of the FX series *Pose. *

Paul Walter Hauser explains why he's raising money for James Van Der Beek, blasts 'internet trolls' who dare question it

James Van Der Beek's 'Dawson's Creek' hair was inspired by Brad Pitt

After Van Der Beek revealed he'd been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in late 2024, his former *Dawson's Creek* castmates reunited for an August 2025 event to help raise money for his treatment.

Van Der Beek couldn't attend due to illness, but he spoke on how much it meant to him in a December 2025 *Today* interview. "As crushed as I was not being able to go to that *Dawson's Creek* reunion, my family got to go. And I was Zooming in on that night and they got a standing ovation just for taking their seats," he recalled. "And all that love that would have otherwise been directed at me, was directed at my family. It was just one of the most beautiful moments I've ever gotten to witness. I'm just so grateful to the fans for doing that."

The actor continued to work during his treatment, appearing on episodes of the Prime Video series *Overcompensating* and taking a role in the upcoming *Legally Blonde* prequel *Elle*.

He died at age 48 on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," said Kimberly in a statement. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

Katie Holmes (Joey Potter)

Fred Norris/The WB; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

After making her acting debut in *The Ice Storm *(1997)*,* Katie Holmes joined *Dawson's Creek* as Joey Potter. She played the quintessential girl next door for the length of the show's run, also appearing in *Disturbing Behavior* (1999), *Go* (1999), *Teaching Mrs. Tingle* (1999), *Wonder Boys* (2000), *The Gift* (2000), *Phone Booth *(2002), and *Pieces of April* (2003) during that time.

After wrapping her run on the show in 2003, Holmes appeared in *First Daughter* (2004), *Batman Begins* (2005), *The Romantics* (2010), *Jack and Jill* (2011), *The Giver* (2014), *Ocean's 8* (2018), *CODA: Life With Music* (2019), and *Alone Together* (2022), and returned to the small screen in episodes of *Ray Donovan*, *The Kennedys*, and *The Kennedys: After Camelot*.

Over the past few years, Holmes has focused on theater, starring in a 2024 *Our Town* revival and an off-Broadway production of Henrik Ibsen's *Hedda Gabler*. She also guested on a 2025 episode of Peacock's *Poker Face*.

Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley)

Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; Neilson Barnard/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Michelle Williams first hit the small screen in 1993, making her acting debut in an episode of *Baywatch*. The actress followed the gig with appearances in *Lassie *(1994) and *Species* (1995) before signing on to play Jen Lindley on *Dawson's Creek*.

Williams, who also booked gigs in *Dick* (1999), *But I'm a Cheerleader* (1999), and *Prozac Nation* (2001) during the show's run, largely focused on film work after saying goodbye to Capeside.

Her big-screen credits include several Academy Award nominations and turns in *Brokeback Mountain* (2005), *Deception* (2008), *Blue Valentine* (2010), *Shutter Island* (2010), *My Week With Marilyn* (2011), *Manchester by the Sea* (2016), *The Greatest Showman *(2017), *All the Money in the World *(2017)*, *and *After the Wedding* (2019).

Williams juped on the comic book movie bandwagon in 2018, starring opposite Tom Hardy in *Venom *and its 2021 sequel. She earned her fifth Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg's *The Fabelmans, *which granted celebration from her former *Dawson's Creek* costars.

In 2025, she starred in and executive produced *Dying for Sex*, an acclaimed Hulu drama that netted her an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe.**

Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

*Dawson's Creek* found its Pacey Witter in Joshua Jackson, who came into the role after appearing in *The Mighty Ducks *(1992) as Charlie Conway. Jackson played Pacey for the show's entire run, also earning credits for *Cruel Intentions* (1999), *The Skulls* (2000), and *Gossip* (2000).

Following the 2003 finale, the actor appeared in *Shadows in the Sun* (2005), *Battle in Seattle* (2007), *Shutter* (2008), and *One Week* (2008), and returned to television in 2008 as Peter Bishop on *Fringe*.

Jackson is known for playing Cole Lockhart on *The Affair* from 2014 to 2019, and has appeared on *When They See Us*, *Little Fires Everywhere*, and *Dr. Death*. The actor also snagged the role of Dan Gallagher in Paramount+'s 2023 miniseries *Fatal Attraction* *— *a reinterpretation of the original 1987 film — in which he stars alongside Lizzy Caplan.

Jackson also starred on and executive produced ABC's *Doctor Odyssey*, though the medical drama was canceled after one season.**

Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee)

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection; David Livingston/Getty Images

*As the World Turns* alum Kerr Smith found his spot on *Dawson's Creek* as Jack McPhee. The actor appeared on the show for five years, also hitting the big screen in *Final Destination *(2000) during that time.

After wrapping his run, Smith did TV stints on *Charmed, CSI: NY*, *Eli Stone*, *Life Unexpected*, *NCIS, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.*, *The Fosters*, *Riverdale*, and *The Resident*.

Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee)

Sony Pictures Television/Courtesy Everett Collection; Desiree Stone/FilmMagic

Meredith Monroe booked her first major role as *Dawson's Creek*'s Andie McPhee, playing the teenager over multiple seasons.

After the show's wrap, the actress largely focused on television work in the 2000s, appearing in TV movies and episodes of *Joan of Arcadia*, *CSI: Miami*, *Fathers and Sons *(2005), *Bones*, and *Crossing Jordan*.

Monroe went on to earn credits for *Psych*, *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* (2011), *Criminal Minds*, *Hart of Dixie*, *The Edge of Seventeen *(2017)*, *and *13 Reasons Why.*

Mary Beth Peil (Evelyn Ryan)

Courtesy Everett Collection; Walter McBride/WireImage

*Dawson's Creek *fans met Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn Ryan, better known as Grams. After spending decades on the stage as an opera singer and on Broadway, Peil made her onscreen acting debut in the '90s.

She played Jen's grandmother for the show's six seasons, continuing her onscreen appearances in films like *The Stepford Wives* (2004), *Flags of Our Fathers* (2006), *Mirrors* (2008), *Collateral Beauty* (2016), and *Here and Now* (2018), and episodes of *The Good Wife*, *The Village*, *Katy Keene*, and *Halston*.

Mary-Margaret Humes (Gail Leery)

Mary-Margaret Humes on 'Dawson's Creek'; Humes at the Maybourne Beverly Hills on November 28, 2023.

Courtesy Everett; Frazer Harrison/Getty

After spending more than a decade in the industry, Mary-Margaret Humes joined *Dawson's Creek* as Gail Leery.

The *Eerie, Indiana* alum played Dawson's mother for the length of the show's run. She went on to appear in episodes of *Grey's Anatomy*, *Criminal Minds*, *Ghost Whisperer*, and *The Rookie*, as well as in a handful of TV movies.

John Wesley Shipp (Mitch Leery)

Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection; Bobby Bank/WireImage

*As the World Turns* and *Guiding Light* star John Wesley Shipp returned to television as *Dawson's Creek*'s Mitch Leery.

He played Dawson's father for three years, going on to earn credits for episodes of *JAG*,* One Life to Live*, *Teen Wolf*, *Arrow*, *The Flash*, and *DC's Stargirl*.

Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell)

Fred Norris/The WB; David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

After making her small-screen debut on *Freaks and Geeks*, Busy Philipps found her way to *Dawson's Creek* in the show's fifth season, playing Audrey Liddell.

After wrapping her run in Capeside, the actress continued her television work in episodes of *Life as We Know It*, *ER*, and *Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles*, and hit the big screen in *White Chicks* (2004), *Made of Honor* (2008), *He's Just Not That Into You* (2009), and *I Don't Know How She Does It* (2011). She also appeared alongside her *Dawson's *costar (and real-life BFF) Michelle Williams in *I Feel Pretty *(2018).

Philipps continued with her television work as *Cougar Town*'s Laurie Keller, *Vice Principals*' Gale Liptrapp, and *Girls5eva*'s Summer Dutowsky, and fetched the role of Mrs. George for Paramount+'s film adaptation of the Broadway musical *Mean Girls*, which is based on the original 2004 film.

Currently, she hosts *Busy This Week*, a QVC talk show.

Where can I watch Dawson’s Creek?

*Dawson's Creek* is currently available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Teen”