Wondering where Dawson, Joey, Jen (RIP) and Pacey have landed post-Dawson’s Creek? Well, you don’t have to wait anymore…
Last month, Dawson’s Creek celebrated its 20th anniversary (WHAT) with lots of fun throwbacks from Dawson and the gang:
vanderjames
#tbt Squad ‘97. I’d known these people all of 7 days when this pic was taken. 20 years ago this week 😱 the little pilot we shot in that small town for that fledgling network aired, changed our lives and launched our careers. Thank you to the Wilmington, North Carolina crew and community who raised us & kept us sane, thank you to the many talented writers and producers who gave of your hearts talents and put up with us. And thank you especially to the fans of the show. It’s a funny relationship we have… your experience of this project is what you saw on camera, while my memories are mostly what I experienced off of it. And yes, it’s true that I haven’t seen most episodes (it became healthier at a certain point to just commit 100% on the day and let it go completely), but the beauty of this arrangement is that my impression of the show now is what you’ve all reflected back to me over the years… and it’s been lovely to witness. So thank you to anyone who’s ever expressed appreciation for the work we did – it makes me feel proud to be associated with these three fine people (and the rest of the cast), and proud to have been a part of #DawsonsCreek. This one will always have a special little place in my heart.
This got me to thinking…what ever happened to this fabulous foursome and the people from the Creek?
Though some of the cast has remained active in the spotlight (Michelle Williams, Busy Phillips, Katie Holmes), others have taken a break from showbiz and are enjoying the simpler life post-Capeside. If you’re wondering what ever happened to Mitch, Gail, Jack, Bessie, Audrey and the rest of the cast, this post is for you!
Want some additional fun facts about Capeside? Check out 15 Fun Facts about Dawson’s Creek for more juicy gossip!
The Cast of Dawson’s Creek: Where Are They Now?
James Van Der Beek
Dawson Leery
A native of Connecticut, VDB got his start acting at a young age. By the time he was 18, he had appeared in a couple off-Broadway plays and two films.
He won the title role of Dawson Leery in 1997 and also appeared in several more films while shooting the series, including Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, Scary Movie, and The Rules of Attraction.
After his time on the Creek ended, VDB returned to the stage, appearing in the off-Broadway production of Rain Dance. He continued working on TV, appearing in small roles on Ugly Betty, Criminal Minds, and How I Met Your Mother. In 2010, VDB was cast in one of his first major roles since DC – Dr. Joe Briggs on the show, Mercy.
Most recently VDB was in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and made a cameo in the 2017 film, Downsizing. He maintains an active family life, just announcing that he and his wife are expecting their fifth child.
Katie Holmes
Joey Potter
Born in Toledo, OH, Holmes is the youngest of five children. Much like her character on Dawson’s Creek, Holmes was an amazing student and graduated the all-female Notre Dame Academy in Toledo with a 4.0 GPA. She was in a production of Damn Yankees when DC creator, Kevin Williamson approached her to audition for the Creek. Not wanting to let her school down, Holmes sent in a videotape of her auditioning for the role, with her mom reading the part of Dawson. Needless to say, she won the part (and was the only actor to appear in EVERY EPISODE of the series). During her time on the Creek, Holmes also acted in a few movies, including her first feature film role in 1998’s Disturbing Behavior.
After she left DC, Holmes went on to pursue her movie career. Her performance as April in Pieces of April (2003) was her first starring role post DC and is said to be her best performance ever (I would agree!). Since then she’s also appeared in Batman Begins, Thank You for Smoking, and a handful of other films that ultimately flopped at the box office. In 2008 she made her Broadway debut in a production of All My Sons, but received mixed reviews.
Most recently, Holmes has appeared in the comedy Logan Lucky and can be seen in the 2018 film, Dear Dictator, opposite Michael Caine.
Josh Jackson
Pacey Witter
Everyone’s favorite Creek-ster actually hails from the wonderful land of Canada and is the son of a casting director. Jackson got his start in several small roles before hitting his big break playing Charlie in The Mighty Ducks.
While filming DC, Jackson appeared in several films, including Cruel Intentions, The Skulls, The Safety of Objects, and The Laramie Project.
Shortly after DC ended, Jackson played the lead role in Americano, Shadows in the Sun, and Aurora Borealis. In 2005, he moved to the UK and made in stage debut with Patrick Stewart in David Mamet’s two-man play, A Life in the Theatre.
From 2008 to 2013, Jackson returned to TV, playing the lead role of Peter Bishop in the sci-fi series, Fringe.
True to his beloved character, Pacey Witter, Jackson held and hosted Pacey-Con in 2010, directly across the street from the Dan Diego Comic-Con, sporting a classic bowling shirt and giving out fan fiction he wrote himself to those waiting in the Comic-Con line.
Jackson is currently performing in Children of a Lesser God, which is hitting Broadway this spring.
Michelle Williams
Jen Lindley
After her emotional and heart-wrenching death in the series finale of Dawson’s Creek, Williams went on to appear in a variety of small, independent films that she felt were more “suited to her acting style”. She called her time on the Creek “the best acting class” ever, but said that she was not as fully invested as she could have been considering she was still very much getting her feet wet at the time.
Her work in film post-DC is maybe the most impressive of the foursome, as her roles in Me Without You, The Station Agent, and Brokeback Mountain will attest to. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her part in Brokeback Mountain, but ultimately lost to Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener).
Williams continued to play roles of troubled women, starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island and opposite Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine, a role which also earned her another Academy Award nomination, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
A slew of other movie roles followed, including My Week with Marilyn, Take This Waltz, and many more. In 2014, she made her Broadway debut in the revival of Cabaret. After her work on Cabaret, Williams was eager to return to the theater and appeared in the 2016 revival of Blackbird, a role which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress.
Most recently, Williams can be seen in The Greatest Showman and has a handful of other films in the works, including the lead role in an upcoming biopic about Janis Joplin.
Kerr Smith
Jack McPhee
Smith starred as Jack McPhee starting in the second season of DC. He was one of the first actors to portray a gay character on TV and was the first man to have an on-screen gay kiss on US television.
After his run on the Creek, he was the last person to ever be pranked on the MTV show, Punk’d before it ended in the early 2000’s. He appeared in several episodes of the TV series, CSI: NY and in the CW’s drama series, Life Unexpected.
He can currently be seen on The Fosters on Freeform Television.
Meredith Monroe
Andie McPhee
Monroe got her start acting in a variety of TV commercials, appearing in advertisements for L’Oreal haircare, Disney resorts, Huffy bicycles, Ford cars, and Mattel toys. She appeared on Dawson’s Creek for only two seasons as Pacey’s super-smart girlfriend, and returned as a special guest in the series finale in season 6 (her scenes were cut from the televised episode but can be viewed on the extended DVD release).
After she left the Creek, Monroe was in a handful of films, including Wake, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and The Edge of Seventeen. She also appeared in several TV shows, including roles in CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, and Castle.
Mary Beth Peil
Evelyn Ryan (Grams)
You wouldn’t think it, but good ol’ grams is actually a classically-trained opera singer. A student of Northwestern University, Peil toured with the Metropolitan Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro in the 1960’s and originated the role of Alma in the opera, Summer and Smoke in 1971.
After a variety of Broadway and off-Broadway performances in plays and musicals, Peil made her film debut in the 1992 film, Jersey Girl.
In 1998, she was cast as Evelyn Ryan in DC and was the only actress outside of the main four to appear as a credited regular throughout the show’s six season run.
After Dawson’s Creek, Peil went back to the theater, appearing in productions of Sweeney Todd, Nine, and Sunday in the Park with George.
Peil continues to perform on stage, most recently in productions of Anastasia and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. She can also be seen in the upcoming romantic comedy, Best Day of My Life, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Simon Baker.
Busy Philipps
Audrey Liddell
A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Elizabeth “Busy” Philipps got her nickname because her parents said she was “always moving” when she was a kid.
Her first major role was as Kim Kelly in Freaks and Geeks and was cast as Audrey Liddell in DC a couple years later. Her role as Audrey Liddell earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination as well as critical appraise.
After the Creek, Philipps starred as Hope Bobeck on ER, alongside her Freaks and Geeks costar, Linda Cardellini. She also appeared as Laurie Keller in the TV series, Cougar Town.
In 2017, Philipps signed on as co-lead opposite Casey Wilson in Tina Fey’s comedy pilot, The Sackett Sisters on NBC. You can also see her in the upcoming Amy Schumer film, I Feel Pretty alongside her real-life BFF and DC co-star, Michelle Williams.
John Wesley Shipp
Mitch Leery
A regular on a variety of daytime soap operas, Shipp is no stranger to TV. He has appeared in As the World Turns, Santa Barbara, One Life to Live, and All My Children. In 1998, he was cast as Dawson’s father, Mitch Leery, on DC. He remained a part of the show for the first four seasons.
After the Creek, Shipp had a few more appearances on TV shows, including a short-term role on One Life to Live. He can currently be seen guest-starring in the CW series, The Flash.
Mary-Margaret Humes
Gail Leery
After leaving the Creek, Humes, who played Dawson’s mother Gail, continued to appear in a variety of TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Touched by an Angel, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY. She’s also appeared in a handful of made-for-TV movies, including Beverly Hills Cop, Dad’s Home, and The Republic.
Nina Repeta
Bessie Potter
Best known for her role as Joey’s older sister, Bessie on DC, Repeta actually attended East Carolina University with show creator, Kevin Williamson. After DC, Repeta had a very small appearance in the 2002 film, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. She’s remained out of the spotlight and hasn’t had a TV or movie credit since 2011.
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