Curse of Dawson’s Creek – James Van Der Beek cancer to life-shattering loss and breakups

Dawson’s Creek was a must-see Sunday morning viewing spot for hungover students and angst-ridden teenagers across the nation back in the days of T4.

Should Joey be with Pacey or Dawson in the storylines, which was a big deal? Joey and Jen might ever have true friendships. And the show didn’t shy away from hard-hitting subjects, such as the tragic death of Jen Lindley, played by Michelle Williams, from a heart condition in the final series.

The rest of the group’s happy ever-afters came after six series of overwrought soul-searching and deep and meaningful conversations that lasted beyond their teenage years.

Dawson Leery, played by James Van der Beek, became a Hollywood director and got to work with his hero, Steven Speilberg.

Joey and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) shacked up in a swanky New York apartment, working as a publisher and a chef respectively.

Meanwhile, Jen’s little girl was adopted by her best friend Jack McPhee and his partner, Doug Witter, Pacey’s older brother. But what happened to the stars of the show – from life-shattering loss to Oscar winners, Scientology and suicide, a lot has happened since the cameras left Capeside…

James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery)

When filming finished in 2003, big things were anticipated from James, 44, as the show’s star and the person behind its name.

Before it was time to put down Dawson’s camera for good, he already had a foot in the door of Hollywood, appearing in blockbusters like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction.

When the show ended, James had a full slate of A-list movies and was named one of People Magazine’s 50 most attractive people in the world when the film was over. Texas Rangers, Scary Movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and others.

But by 2006, he was appearing in straight-to-DVD movies such as horror flick, The Plague. James made a comeback to the small screen that year, and he even performed in numerous off-Broadway productions.

Several recurring roles followed, included a part in the hit US show, Ugly Betty, and the long-running sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, and he even played a serial killer in Criminal Minds.

James certainly knows how to make fun of both his younger sibling, Dawson. He was cast as a filmmaker who, if he had tried, could not have been more different from Dawson when he won the role in the teen drama One Tree Hill in 2008. Two years later he played a make-believe version of himself in the TV series, Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23, which he earned rave reviews for.

He had previously played the womanizing boss of a Mercy intensive care unit and had even made an appearance in one of Kesha’s music videos for Stolen. He also competed in Dancing With The Stars and came in fifth overall. He has since turned his attention to reality TV.

He and Kimberly Brook, who he married twice, first to actress Heather McComb and then to business consultant Kimberly Brook, who he tied the knot with ten years ago. Kimberly and her sixth child, Kimberly, were expecting a baby in November 2019 despite the couple having five children.

They made the announcement in September of last year that they would relocate to Texas from Los Angeles.

James revealed that he had bowel cancer this weekend, shocking the audience. Despite the diagnosis, the 47-year-old said there was “reason for optimism” and that he was “feeling good” as he made the announcement. He stated to People, “I have colorectal cancer, I’ve been dealing with this diagnosis privately and have been working with my incredible family to get it resolved.”

Katie Holmes (Joey Potter)

Joey Potter was the sassy and charming girl who all girls and boys wanted to date.

And the actress hasn’t been in the news much since she started hosting the show, at least not in part because of her failed marriage to Hollywood gypsy Tom Cruise.

Katie, now 42, was no stranger to the silver screen, appearing in Go, Teaching Miss Tingle, Wonder Boys, The Gift and Phone Booth in the late Nineties and early Noughties.

After Dawson’s Creek was over, there were a number of eccentric indie movies, including Pieces of April and The Singing Detective, before Katie made her big break.

In the same year as her husband-to-be, she was cast as Rachel Dawes opposite Christian Bale in Batman Begins.

The couple enjoyed a whirlwind romance, with few able to forget Cruise’s bizarre appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show, where he jumped on the sofa while talking about Katie.

They were engaged after just seven weeks and their only daughter, Suri, now 14, was born on their first anniversary.

In a lavish Italian ceremony in 2006, Katie and Tom were reportedly standing in a hole in her wedding photos to avoid soaring over their respective spouses.

By filing for divorce from her Scientologist husband just six years later, Katie tipped Tom off. She never discussed her marriage publicly, but she still has custody of Suri and met Jamie Foxx on the show. She is currently dating Emilio Vitolo, Jr., the chef.

Katie has also now tried her hand at directing, to strong reviews, with All We Had, and appeared on screen with greats such as Michael Caine.

Jackie Kennedy was also portrayed by her in a television show about the well-known American political family.

Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley)

Michelle, who played wild child Jen, has arguably gone on to have the most success out of the Dawson’s Creek cast. She has won two Golden Globes and four Oscar nominations for her roles in frequently dark and gritty movies.

In Brokeback Mountain, a tragic tale about a gay man hiding his true feelings for his friend, she made her breakthrough acting debut. She would be introduced to Heath, her potential partner, and her first Oscar nomination. The couple went on to have daughter, Matilda, but broke up in 2007.

And she was shattered by Heath’s death aged just 28 the following year, and when it came to selling the home they’d once shared in 2014, she was heartbroken.

“ At that time, I was inconsolable, because I felt, ‘ How will he be able to find us? She told WSJ Magazine in 2017 that she would never know where we were because this is where we used to live.

Since then, Michelle, 40, has stayed tight-lipped about her personal life.

She and musician Phil Elverum were briefly married in 2018 and first got married in 2012. She dated actor Jason Segel in 2012. Then, with her partner, theatre director Thomas Kail, she gave birth to her second child.

Meanwhile, her career has also gone from strength to strength with roles in My Week With Marilyn, Shutter Island, Oz the Great and Powerful, Venom and The Greatest Showman.

Since her time as Gwen Verdon in the television series Fosse/Verdon, where she also served as an executive producer, she has only ever appeared on television once.

Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter)

As Dawson’s best friend, and then bitter enemy when he fell in love with Joey, Pacey stole teenage girls hearts around the world.

Joshua, who had previously appeared in The Might Ducks movie series, was a familiar face to the Dawson’s Creek cast.

And before a slew of film roles featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest names, he first appeared in Cruel Intentions as Pacey.

Joshua, 42, starred opposite D ennis Hopper in Americano, Harvey Keitel in Shadows In The Sun and Donald Sutherland in Aurora Borealis.

After that, he performed in London’s West End alongside Patrick Stewart, but it appeared Joshua’s heart was destined for television.

For five years he played the lead role of Peter Bishop in JJ Abrams created sci-fi series, Fringe, and last year played lawyer, Mickey Joseph, in the Netflix series When They See Us.

Following, The Affair and Little Fires received critical acclaim all over the world.

Katie Holmes, a co-star of Dawson’s Creek, and Diane Kruger, a fellow actress, started dating in 2006 after dating her for the first two seasons.

Before declaring their union a success, the couple lived together for ten years. After that, Jodie Turner-Smith and Jodie married in December of this year, and the couple welcomed their daughter Janie in 2020. However Jodie filed for divorce in 2023 citing ‘ irreconcilable difference. ‘

Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee)

Despite playing 16-year-old Jack in Dawson’s Creek, Kerr was actually 26 when he joined the cast.

Jack’s coming out scenes influenced a generation of struggling teenagers.

And since the show ended, Kerr, 49, has rarely been off screen, starring in horror films like Final Destination and having a starring role in the sitcom, The Fosters.

More recently he’s appeared as the headteacher in Riverdale, had a recurring role in Riverdale, Criminal Minds, NCIS and Agents of S. H. I. E. L. D.

But these days, Kerr and his second wife Lisa run a wellness business, which he prefers to pursue rather than TV and film roles.

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,” describes TerraLife Wellness as a holistic health and wellness company.

Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell)

Before the gang all relocated to college, Busy didn’t make an appearance as Audrey in Dawson’s Creek, but he quickly grew to be a favorite of the fans.

For the remaining two seasons of the show, she and Pacey had close friendships.

Busy, 41, has certainly lived up to her name since filming wrapped on Dawson’s Creek, starring in another long-running TV show, ER, and appearing in films likeMade of Honour, He’s Just Not That Into You and I Feel Pretty.

Along with acting, Busy also launched her own talk show, Busy Tonight, which was cancelled after one series, and has written her memoir, This Will Only Hurt A Little.

The actress and presenter also supports the right to access abortions with her passionate and outspoken support.

Mary Beth Peil (Evelyn ‘ Grams ‘ Ryan)

As Jen’s long-suffering Grams, Mary Beth was always on hand to offer sage advice to the young characters.

The actress, now aged 80, hasn’t let anything slow her down and is still a regular on our screens.

One of her most high profile roles since Dawson’s Creek was as Jackie Florrick, mother of governor, Peter, in The Good Wife.

Mary Beth even reunited with her former Creek co-star, Joshua Jackson, in Fringe.

She frequently appears on Broadway in productions, but her last one, The Village, was in 2019, was inconsequential.

Source: Mirror