Dawson’s Creek was essential T4 viewing in the early 2000s. From Oscar nominations to tragic loss and high-profile divorces, here’s what happened to the cast including Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek and Michelle Williams
In the heyday of T4, Dawson’s Creek was a must-watch on Sunday mornings for hungover students and angst-filled teens nationwide. The plotlines were gripping – should Joey choose Dawson or Pacey? Could Joey and Jen ever become true friends?
The show didn’t dodge tackling tough topics, such as the heartbreaking death of Jen Lindley, portrayed by Michelle Williams, from a heart condition in the final series.
After six series filled with intense soul-searching and profound conversations beyond their teenage years, the rest of the gang found their happily ever after. Dawson Leery, played by James Van der Beek, became a Hollywood director and had the chance to work with his idol, Steven Spielberg.
READ MORE: James Van Der Beek posted a poignant 2 minute video and it’s making everyone cry
Joey and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) ended up living together in a posh New York flat, working as a publisher and a chef respectively. Meanwhile, Jen’s little girl was adopted by her best mate Jack McPhee and his partner, Doug Witter, Pacey’s older brother. While the sad news of James Van Der Beek’s death was announced today.
But what became of the stars of the show – from life-altering loss to Oscar winners, Scientology and suicide, a lot has transpired since the cameras left Capeside….
James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery)
As the lead of the show – and the character it’s named after – great things were anticipated from James, 48, when filming concluded in 2003. He had already made a foray into Hollywood, featuring in big hits like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction before it was time to retire Dawson’s camera for good.
Following the show’s conclusion, James earned a place amongst People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people in the world and secured a packed schedule of Hollywood blockbusters. His credits included Texas Rangers, Scary Movie and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
However, by 2006, he found himself starring in straight-to-DVD releases such as horror film, The Plague. That same year, James made his return to television and took on roles in several off-Broadway theatre productions.
A string of recurring parts followed, including appearances in the popular American series, Ugly Betty, and the enduring sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, whilst he even portrayed a serial killer in Criminal Minds. James has clearly mastered the art of sending up both himself and his youthful character of Dawson.
In 2008, he landed a role in teen drama One Tree Hill as a filmmaker who bore absolutely no resemblance to Dawson whatsoever. Two years on, he portrayed a fictional version of himself in the television series, Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23, earning glowing reviews for his performance.
By 2010, he was cast as the womanising head of an intensive care unit in Mercy and even featured in one of Kesha’s music videos for Stolen. He’s also dabbled in reality television, taking part in Dancing With The Stars and securing fifth place.
James has walked down the aisle twice, first with actress Heather McComb and currently with business consultant Kimberly Brook, whom he married a decade ago. The pair share five children, though Kimberly heartbreakingly lost their sixth baby through miscarriage in November 2019. Last September, they revealed they were leaving Los Angeles behind to start afresh in Texas.
But sadly James has now died at the age of 48 after suffering from bowel cancer. In a hand-written statement posted on Instagram, Katie Holmes remembered Van Der Beek and his “bravery, compassion, selflessness and strength”, as well as the actor’s “appreciation for life”.
Co-star Busy Philipps wrote: “James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and I don’t know what else to say. I am just so so sad.”
Katie Holmes (Joey Potter)
As the feisty yet endearing girl-next-door, Joey Potter was the character every girl aspired to be and every boy dreamed of dating. And the actress has seldom been absent from the spotlight since her stint on the programme – partly due to her doomed marriage to Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise.
Katie, now 47, was already familiar with cinema, featuring in Go, Teaching Miss Tingle, Wonder Boys, The Gift and Phone Booth during the late Nineties and early Noughties. Following Dawson’s Creek’s conclusion, she appeared in a string of offbeat independent productions, from Pieces of April to The Singing Detective – before landing her major opportunity.
She secured the role of Rachel Dawes alongside Christian Bale in Batman Begins – the very year she encountered her future spouse. The duo experienced a lightning-fast courtship, with many still remembering Cruise’s peculiar stint on Oprah Winfrey’s programme, where he leapt onto the sofa whilst discussing Katie.
They became engaged after merely seven weeks, and their sole daughter, Suri, now 19, arrived on their first anniversary. Katie and Tom, nicknamed TomKat, wed in an extravagant Italian celebration in 2006, with Katie allegedly standing in a depression during wedding photographs to prevent appearing taller than her husband. Just six years on, Katie shocked Tom by filing for divorce from her Scientologist husband.
She’s never publicly discussed her marriage but secured sole custody of Suri and later dated actor Jamie Foxx. She’s now in a relationship with chef Emilio Vitolo, Jr. Katie has also ventured into directing, earning strong reviews for All We Had, and shared the screen with legends including Michael Caine. She also portrayed Jackie Kennedy in a series chronicling the iconic American political dynasty.
Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley)
Michelle, who brought wild child Jen to life, has arguably achieved the greatest success amongst the Dawson’s Creek ensemble. She’s received four Oscar nominations and claimed two Golden Globes for her performances in frequently dark and intense films.
Her breakout performance came as Heath Ledger’s wife in Brokeback Mountain – the heartbreaking tale of a gay man concealing his true feelings for his friend. It earned her first Oscar nod and introduced her to her future partner, Heath. The pair welcomed daughter Matilda, but separated in 2007.
She was devastated by Heath’s death at just 28 the following year, and when the time came to sell their former shared home in 2014, she was heartbroken. “At that time, I was inconsolable, because I felt, ‘How will he be able to find us? This is where we lived and he won’t know where we are,'” she revealed to WSJ Magazine in 2017.
Since then, Michelle, 45, has remained private about her personal life. In 2012, she was in a relationship with actor Jason Segel and had a brief marriage to musician Phil Elverum from 2018 to 2019. Last summer, she welcomed her first child with her current partner, theatre director Thomas Kail.
Simultaneously, her career has flourished with roles in films such as My Week With Marilyn, Shutter Island, Oz the Great and Powerful, Venom and The Greatest Showman. She has only returned to television once since her Dawson’s Creek days, portraying Gwen Verdon in the series Fosse/Verdon, where she also served as an executive producer.
Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter)
As Dawson’s best mate who later becomes his bitter rival after falling for Joey, Pacey captured the hearts of teenage girls worldwide. Joshua was already familiar with fame when he joined the Dawson’s Creek cast, having previously starred in The Might Ducks film series.
While playing Pacey, he also appeared in Cruel Intentions, followed by a slew of film roles alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Joshua, 47, shared the screen with Dennis Hopper in Americano, Harvey Keitel in Shadows In The Sun and Donald Sutherland in Aurora Borealis.
He then graced the stage alongside Patrick Stewart in London’s West End, but it seemed Joshua’s passion lay in television. For five years, he played the lead role of Peter Bishop in the JJ Abrams-created sci-fi series, Fringe, and last year portrayed lawyer Mickey Joseph in the Netflix series When They See Us.
Following his acclaimed performances in The Affair and Little Fires Everywhere. After dating Dawson’s Creek co-star Katie Holmes during the show’s initial two seasons, he began a relationship with fellow actress Diane Kruger in 2006.
The pair were together for a decade before deciding to part ways. He is currently in a relationship with British actress Jodie Turner-Smith, and the couple tied the knot in December 2019, welcoming their daughter Janie the following year. However they divorced three years ago and Jackson started dating Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o for about a year, from 2023 to 2024. Since then, he has sparked dating rumors with German model Nastassja Roberts, Jain, Ashley, and others.
Fans begged him to get back with former co-star and ex Katie Holmes, but he instead was spotted with Bridgerton star Simone Ashley as well as actress and author Elizabeth Gilpin as the pair were out in a flirty Calabasas outing.
Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee)
Despite portraying 16 year old Jack in Dawson’s Creek, Kerr was actually 26 when he joined the cast. Jack’s coming out scenes had a profound impact on a generation of struggling teenagers.
Since the show concluded, Kerr, now 53, has been a constant presence on screen, featuring in horror films like Final Destination and landing a leading role in the sitcom, The Fosters. More recently, he’s taken on the role of headteacher in Riverdale, and had recurring roles in Criminal Minds, NCIS and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, these days, Kerr is more focused on the wellness business he operates with his second wife, Lisa.
TerraLife Wellness is a holistic health and wellness company that describes itself as practising a “preventative, holistic approach to guiding people on their personal journey to mental, physical and spiritual growth, while creating balance in all areas of life”.
Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell)
Busy didn’t make her debut as Audrey in Dawson’s Creek until the crew all moved to university, but she quickly became a fan favourite. She was romantically involved with Pacey and remained close pals with Joey for the last two series of the programme.
Busy, 46, has certainly lived up to her moniker since Dawson’s Creek ended, featuring in another long-standing TV series, ER, and making appearances in films like Made of Honour, He’s Just Not That Into You and I Feel Pretty.
In addition to acting, Busy also launched her own chat show, Busy Tonight, which was axed after one season, and penned her memoir, This Will Only Hurt A Little. The actress and presenter is also a fervent and vocal campaigner, staunchly supporting women’s access to abortions.
Mary Beth Peil (Evelyn ‘Grams’ Ryan)
As Jen’s patient Grams, Mary Beth was always ready to provide wise counsel to the young characters. The actress, now 85, hasn’t let anything slow her down and continues to be a regular on our screens.
One of her most notable roles post-Dawson’s Creek was as Jackie Florrick, mother of governor Peter, in The Good Wife. Mary Beth even had a reunion with her former Creek co-star, Joshua Jackson, in Fringe. She frequently features in Broadway productions and was last seen on screen in 2019 in The Village.
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