{"id":193419,"date":"2025-09-16T19:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/16\/inside-the-dawsons-creek-cast-friendships-upcoming-reunion-excl\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T19:00:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:00:54","slug":"inside-the-dawsons-creek-cast-friendships-upcoming-reunion-excl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/16\/inside-the-dawsons-creek-cast-friendships-upcoming-reunion-excl\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Dawson\u2019s Creek Cast Friendships, Upcoming Reunion (Excl)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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When James Van Der Beek<\/strong><\/a> announced via social media last November that he\u2019d privately been receiving treatment for Stage 3 colorectal cancer, a generation of Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em><\/a> fans were stunned and devastated. They\u2019d grown up with this guy, and loved how, in his many family-centric social media posts, his real-life persona reflected the earnestness of Dawson Leery offset with warmth, wisdom and a great sense of humor. How could this be happening to someone so positive and healthy?<\/p>\n

But the star\u2019s inner circle had already been rallying around the actor, 48, for months \u2014 not just his friends and family, but also his Dawson\u2019s crew. Because, while many stars of the golden era of teen shows may occasionally \u201clike\u201d each other\u2019s Instagram posts, bonds go deeper than that for this group, proving that what happened in Capeside \u2014 actually, Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show filmed \u2014 didn\u2019t stay in Capeside. They made meaningful relationships that have supported them through serious ups and downs since.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why their long-awaited public reunion is as exciting for them as it is for the hordes of fans who clamored for tickets (it sold out<\/a> in 12 minutes!). The September 22 event, which takes place on Broadway, will see the original cast performing a live reading of the show\u2019s iconic 1998 pilot episode to benefit the nonprofit F Cancer<\/a> and Van Der Beek, as well as raise awareness of the importance of early detection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe grew up in Capeside, and that\u2019s a bond that will last a lifetime,\u201d Van Der Beek\u2019s costar Michelle Williams<\/strong> said in a statement announcing the reunion, which will also feature creator Kevin Williamson<\/strong>. \u201cWe wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been, and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em> feel the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coming Back Together<\/h2>\n

Since the show wrapped in 2003, the core cast has gone in different directions \u2014 professionally, personally and geographically. Van Der Beek has settled in Texas with wife Kimberly<\/strong> and their six kids, taking on sporadic acting gigs and a memorable run on season 28 of Dancing With the Stars<\/em>; L.A.-based Joshua Jackson<\/strong> (Pacey Witter), 47, has become a big, serious actor, starring on TV dramas like The Affair <\/em>and Little Fires Everywhere<\/em> while also romancing a string of Hollywood beauties; Williams (Jen Lindley), 45, has blossomed into a respected indie actress who leads a quiet, private life in Brooklyn, New York, not too far from arguably the show\u2019s biggest name, Katie Holmes<\/strong> (Joey Potter), 46, who lives in Manhattan and is now an empty nester since 19-year-old daughter Suri \u2014 her only child with ex-husband Tom Cruise<\/strong> \u2014 has left for college.<\/p>\n

Despite their individual paths, the four stars still have plenty in common \u2014 not least the unique, life-altering shared experience of shooting to fame in such a well-loved and critically acclaimed show along with their other good friends, Busy Philipps<\/strong> (Audrey), Meredith Monroe<\/strong> (Andie), Kerr Smith<\/strong> (Jack) and, of course, Mary-Margaret Humes<\/strong> and John Wesley Shipp<\/strong>, a.k.a Gail and Mitch Leery, who will all be at the Broadway reunion. Humes exclusively tells Us<\/em> that this enduring bond is why the group didn\u2019t hesitate to sign up to support TV\u2019s most verbose aspiring filmmaker.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>\u2018Dawson\u2019s Creek\u2019 Cast: Where Are They Now?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tEver since Dawson\u2019s Creek premiered in 1998, the show became a favorite among fans and remains one of the most popular teen dramas to ever hit the small screen. The series followed the life of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), a tomboy who is just trying to make it through high school following the death of [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe first phone call I got was from James himself,\u201d Humes says. \u201cHe told me that Michelle was spearheading this, and it was a way for us to actually have a reunion, all of us together, and celebrate James\u2019 life. Because he\u2019s dealing with a very difficult situation; very optimistic, but a difficult situation. Together as a TV family, we just thought we needed to be there for him and rally around him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith, 53, also heard from Van Der Beek directly about Williams\u2019 plans. \u201cBack in April or May, we were doing a convention together in Pittsburgh and he had mentioned that Michelle wanted to do this and put it together. It\u2019s Michelle\u2019s baby \u2014 she gets the credit,\u201d Smith tells Us<\/em>. \u201cWhen I was pitched, I said, \u2018Of course, I\u2019m in. This is fantastic.’\u201d He last saw the group in person for the 2018 Entertainment Weekly<\/em> reunion photo shoot, but has been in touch with several cast members for his upcoming book about his journey on the beloved show.<\/p>\n

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Instagram Kerr Smith<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe went out to dinner before we did the photo shoot for that 2018 reunion. And I sat down next to Katie and one of the first things we said was it feels like no time has gone by at all. We just dove right back into a conversation,\u201d Smith says. \u201cIt\u2019s just easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parental Figures<\/h2>\n

Humes, 71, tells Us<\/em> that Van Der Beek\u2019s diagnosis resonated with her more than most, due to her own private battle with colon cancer in 2007, something she hasn\u2019t previously shared with the media. \u201cIt was just about ready to break out of the wall,\u201d she reveals. \u201cIt could\u2019ve been a terrible situation, but we caught it in time. My doctor said we dodged a bullet, and it was all because of early detection. Cancers are survivable, but go out and get screened \u2014 thankfully, that\u2019s part of James\u2019 journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Humes vividly remembers the moment Van Der Beek called her to share his sad news. After playing mother and son for six years, the pair have stayed close. \u201cSince [then], we\u2019ve had multiple conversations that are very uplifting and spiritual. He knows I\u2019ve got his back 100 percent. He\u2019s going to get through this, and we\u2019re all coming together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actress has long assumed a maternal role over her younger castmates and has, in many ways, been the glue that\u2019s kept them together. She still stays in regular contact with most of the actors \u2014 and it all goes back to those early days on set. \u201cOur executive producer Paul Stupin<\/strong> used to call me the \u2018den mother\u2019 because I was like the elder, with the exception of Mary Beth Peil<\/strong> [Grams],\u201d she recalls. \u201cI did take the kids under my wing, but they didn\u2019t need much guidance. We all just fell into this. Everybody just gelled as a family and came together. There were no ego problems \u2014 there were tense moments behind the scenes from time to time, but that will remain a mystery!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her onscreen husband Shipp \u2014 who, as Dawson\u2019s dad, was cheated on by Gail and was later brutally killed off in that infamous ice cream incident (we\u2019re still not over it!) \u2014 tells a similar story. \u201cWe were cocooned from Hollywood in this southeastern coastal town,\u201d he tells Us<\/em>. \u201cWe were out of the glare of the bright lights, and it was a really special experience. Not that they would have engaged in any bad behavior, our young cast was too smart for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Columbia TriStar Television\/courtesy Everett Collection<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like Humes, Shipp, 70, says that his parental role extended beyond the script, recalling that he and Humes even took Van Der Beek to watch his first big movie, Varsity Blues<\/em>, since his IRL family couldn\u2019t make the trip to Wilmington. \u201cI remember when James signed his first autograph!\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s just incredibly dear. Everyone was on the same level, regardless of experience, and even after they shot up to superstardom that surpassed mine and Mary-Margaret\u2019s, it was still the same dynamic, and I think that\u2019s testament to each and every one of those kids, now in their 40s.\u201d<\/p>\n

First and Lasting Loves<\/h2>\n

Of course, there was occasional drama on set \u2014 not least when, early on, Jackson and Holmes became a real-life couple, which the actress talked about in a 1998 interview with Rolling Stone.<\/em> \u201cI fell in love, I had my first love, and it was something so incredible and indescribable that I will treasure it always,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that I feel so fortunate because he\u2019s now one of my best friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shortly before the show wrapped in 2003, Jackson made a rare remark of his own about the relationship. \u201cIn the very beginning, Katie and I did have a romance, which is ancient history now. I can\u2019t tell you how much fun it is to have an actual romance and then we broke up and then a year later to have an onscreen romance because there\u2019s nothing more fun than going to work with your ex-girlfriend every day. Sorry, Katie, I love you, but it was a little difficult there for a while,\u201d Jackson said as then-Late Night<\/em> host Conan O\u2019Brien<\/strong> joked that the writers did it to torture them. \u201cYou\u2019re reading the scripts and you\u2019re actually like, \u2018Didn\u2019t I say that to her? That\u2019s not healthy!’\u201d<\/p>\n

That meaningful connection is why Dawson\u2019s mania hit a new crescendo recently, when the pair reunited to shoot their forthcoming movie trilogy, Happy Hours<\/em><\/a>. Joey and Pacey, pictured together, grinning and pushing a stroller? It doesn\u2019t get better than that for Dawson\u2019s fans \u2014 especially if you were always Team Pacey! (While Smith stays neutral as a \u201cteam Jack\u201d in the great debate, he admits of Holmes and Jackson: \u201cIt seems like it\u2019s a natural relationship, and I can\u2019t wait to see it.\u201d)<\/p>\n

But they\u2019re not the only stars who\u2019ve stayed incredibly close \u2014 Williams and Philipps, 46, are also certified BFFs. When Philipps joined the cast in 2000, playing party girl Audrey Liddell throughout the show\u2019s college years, they hit it off straight away. \u201cShe\u2019s proof that the love of your life does not have to be a man!\u201d Williams told People<\/em> in 2016, adding, \u201cSomeone had said, \u2018When you two meet, there is going to be a chemical reaction.\u2019 I had been really excited for this girl to land in Wilmington. She was so beautiful and cool\u2026 I said to her recently, \u2018You have really saved me from ever being lonely because you are always right there.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n LOS ANGELES, CA \u2013 JANUARY 29: Actors Busy Philipps (L) and Michelle Williams attend the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard\/Getty Images)<\/span> Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Philipps is just as smitten. \u201cMichelle is a very easy person to fall in love with,\u201d she wrote in her 2018 memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little.<\/em> \u201cAnyone who really knows her will tell you that. And probably anyone who barely knows her would say that, too.\u201d Philipps was there for Williams when her former partner, Heath Ledger<\/strong>, with whom she shared daughter Matilda, now 18, died in 2008, just three months after their breakup. \u201cI understand the public\u2019s fascination with Heath\u2019s death, with him in general, as a cultural icon or as the greatest actor of a generation or whatever,\u201d Philipps wrote. \u201cBut you know, for me it was really simple. He was my best friend\u2019s love and the father of her child. My beautiful, magical goddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ebbs and Flows<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s only natural that with such a big, talented group of actors, there have been ups and downs. Both Shipp and Humes note how different Van Der Beek and Jackson approached the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames was always prepared. He took his job very seriously, and he asked a lot of questions because he was searching for authenticity,\u201d Humes says. \u201cSo he would make a lot of phone calls to Kevin to search out the route that he should take to bring what Kevin\u2019s dream was to his character. Josh was such a seasoned actor \u2014 he had worked more \u2014 and he was the life of the party on set. He was joking around with everybody and with the crew, and then the cameras would roll, and he was just magical. He\u2019s smart, he\u2019s intelligent. I always used to say, \u2018You could ask Joshua what time it is, and he would build you a watch.\u2019 I mean, he knew his stuff. He knew everybody\u2019s stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shipp also recalls Van Der Beek being \u201cvery analytical.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very script analysis oriented \u2026 And I\u2019m not saying that Josh wasn\u2019t, because certainly he maintained a consistent character, but he was very improvisational, you know, up to the last minute before action,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

More recently, during an April appearance on Jesse Tyler Ferguson<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cDinner\u2019s on Me\u201d podcast, Jackson admitted that, at the end of the day, he and his costars are essentially a family. While they aren\u2019t always in touch \u2014 \u201cit\u2019s not a daily call\u201d and \u201csometimes it\u2019s not a weekly or monthly or even a half-yearly call\u201d \u2014 it\u2019s like no time has passed when they\u2019re together. \u201cThere is, you know, these moments, these major moments in life [that]\u2026 there\u2019s probably no other people in your life that you are that forged to,\u201d he explained. \u201c\u2019Cause you had to go through good and bad and happy and \u2018F*** you\u2019 and \u2018Don\u2019t talk to me\u2019 and \u2018I love you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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