Dawson’s Creek Star Mary-Margaret Humes Reveals Private Cancer Battle

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The residents of Capeside are a support system all their own.

Before the cast of *Dawson’s Creek* reunites on September 22nd for a charity event to support their co-star James Van Der Beek-who shared last year that he’s fighting stage 3 colorectal cancer-another cast member, Mary-Margaret Humes, has revealed she privately battled colon cancer back in 2007.

The actress, 71, told *Us Weekly* that a health issue was almost critical. Thankfully, they discovered it early enough to prevent a serious problem. Her doctor said they were very lucky to catch it in time, emphasizing the importance of early detection.

I was so touched to hear Mary-Margaret talk about James’ cancer diagnosis. As someone who loves their work together on Dawson’s Creek, it meant a lot. She emphasized something really important: cancer *is* beatable, but early detection is key. And she’s right, it’s a huge part of what James is going through now, getting screened and facing this head-on.

Besides joining the upcoming fundraiser-a live reading of the first episode of the WB show from 1998-the actress also shared that she’s been supporting James during his battle with cancer.

I’ve been having such encouraging and meaningful talks with him lately. He really knows I’m completely on his side and will support him no matter what. I truly believe he’s going to overcome this, and it’s amazing to see everyone rallying around him.

The benefit will be attended by the show’s main stars, including Katie Holmes, Busy Philipps, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams.

Mary-Margaret explained that getting together was a chance for everyone to reconnect and honor James’ life. He’s facing a tough time, though he’s staying positive, and they all felt it was important to support him as a TV family and show their love.

Oh my gosh, it’s not just Lori, James’ mom on the show, who’s been so supportive! He was so brave sharing in July that dealing with cancer will likely be a lifelong thing for him, and it just breaks my heart, but also makes me admire him even more. And Michelle, his *wife* on the show? She said their connection, their love… it’s going to last forever! Seriously, it’s the sweetest thing, and I’m completely obsessed with their relationship, both on and off screen. It just proves how real their bond is!

Michelle shared in a statement on August 20th that they wanted to show their friend James how much they all care about him and will always be there for him. She also believes the show’s fans feel the same way, according to Us Weekly.

Read on to learn behind-the-scenes secrets from the show. 

While Fox was first to pick up Dawson’s Creek, it subsequently dumped the teen drama. 

I remember Kevin Williamson talking at ATX back in 2015. He explained that when he pitched the show, people were already having a hard time with *Party of Five* and felt like another family drama just wasn’t what they needed.

But that paved the way for The WB to pick it up two years later.

Although Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait” is famously known as the theme song for *Dawson’s Creek*, the show’s creators initially preferred Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket.”

Alas, they couldn’t land the rights, what a jagged little pill.

Dawson. Pacey. Joey. Not names you hear every day. So how did Williamson come up with them? 

In a 2018 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, Dawson explained that the town in the show, Dawson’s Creek, was based on a real place where he and his friends grew up. He said Pacey’s name, however, came from someone he barely knew. He’d never encountered the name before and simply thought it sounded cool.

The show’s creator, Williamson, chose the name Josephine because it felt feminine but could also be shortened to Joey, giving the character a tomboyish side.

Remember Dawson’s infamous “walk the dog” line in the pilot?

In 1998, Williamson used a milder phrase because the television network wouldn’t allow the word “masturbate” to be spoken on air.

Before Katie Holmes became known as America’s sweetheart, Blake Lively was very close to getting the part.

The character of Joe was originally conceived as a tomboy, and many of the actresses auditioning embraced that energy. According to creator Williamson, Selma Blair was a strong contender – she delivered a powerful and emotional reading during her audition.

Honestly, the moment I saw Holmes on the video – those big eyes just sealed the deal! We instantly knew we’d found our Joey. It was one of those ‘you just *know* moments,’ and it made the whole process so much easier.

Williamson liked Joshua Jackson so much, he didn’t care what role the Mighty Ducks alum played.

I was immediately drawn to Josh Jackson’s acting ability – he could convincingly play either Dawson or Pacey, as I told *The Hollywood Reporter*. However, the network felt he wasn’t right for the role of Dawson, and they were probably correct. That’s when I decided he’d be perfect as Pacey, because I knew I wanted him on the show regardless.

In 1999, a young Charlie Hunnam, then 18 years old, auditioned for a drama on The WB. Although he wasn’t cast in the role, he did meet Katherine Towne during the audition process.

Hunnam and his wife eloped to Las Vegas just three weeks after meeting, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2002. He later described the three years they were married as “terrible, painful, and expensive.”

Dawson’s Creek became so popular that American Eagle inked a deal in 2000 to outfit the actors.

Throughout the third season, characters on the show primarily wore clothing from AE (American Eagle). The cast also promoted the brand in advertising, which helped the company earn over $105 million in 2001.

When James Van Der Beek was first cast, the studio wanted him to change his hair.

I remember reading an ad for the movie *The Devil’s Own*, the one starring Brad Pitt. It was back in 2012 when I told The Daily Beast about it. They actually asked if they could replicate Brad Pitt’s haircut in the ad! That’s honestly how I ended up with my look for the first season – they based it on his!

Early in the series, Holmes and Jackson were a couple, before Pacey and Joey started developing feelings for each other.

In a 1998 interview with *Rolling Stone*, Holmes revealed she had a romantic relationship with someone the previous year, widely believed to be Michael Jackson. She described falling in love for the first time, calling it an amazing and unforgettable experience. She also expressed gratitude that they remained close, becoming one of her best friends – a situation she jokingly compared to the platonic-turned-friendship dynamic of characters Dawson and Joey from the TV show *Dawson’s Creek*.

She also shared that he’s a long-time veteran of the industry and has been a great help to her. She expressed her respect for him both as a friend and a colleague.

When Kerr Smith agreed to play Joey’s boyfriend on the show, he didn’t realize the character would later come out as gay and be featured in what would become the first gay kiss ever shown on television.

I always hoped Jack would publicly come out as gay, but I didn’t share that with anyone on set, even [Smith],” Williamson explained at the ATX TV Festival. “I wanted the audience to fall in love with him first, then reveal his sexuality and show how Joey would react-ultimately, that conflict would bring her back to [Dawson].

Interestingly, Williamson has shared that he sees a part of himself in every character on the show, even Jack.

He explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that every character in the show contains a piece of himself. He’d recently come out to his parents in his twenties and wanted to portray that experience – and that part of his identity – through a character on the show.

The episode where Jack came out was based on a real-life story and was written with help from both Williamson and producer Greg Berlanti.

According to Berlanti, a friend of his was unintentionally revealed to be gay. This happened because he wrote a love poem that everyone recognized was about a man, as he told EW.

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps have been best friends ever since they first met on the set of *Dawson’s Creek*, and they remain close to this day.

In 2016, while at a screening of *Manchester by the Sea*, Williams told *People* magazine how much she loves her close friend. She explained that her best friend is proof that your soulmate doesn’t have to be a romantic partner – that her friend is, in fact, the love of her life.

Philipps is also godmother to Williams’ daughter Matilda Ledger, who was born in 2005.

The episode where Dawson lost his virginity was a significant event, and actor Van Der Beek marked the occasion by bringing a special gift to the set on filming day.

He recalled bringing champagne to celebrate with the crew, explaining, “Dawson finally lost his virginity,” as he told The Daily Beast.

Before becoming famous on *One Tree Hill*, Chad Michael Murray appeared on *Dawson’s Creek* as Charlie, who dated both Jen and Joey.

Charlie was quite social, but Murray didn’t seem to connect with many people when he first lived in North Carolina, where *OTH* was later filmed.

In 2009, during a Paley panel discussion, Philipps referred to someone as “a douche,” then added, “I’m not too concerned about damaging my relationship with CMM.”

Van Der Beek also mentioned that Chad Michael Murray has improved a lot. After the panel discussion, Philipps tweeted jokingly about whether she’d been too critical of him, but ultimately decided she hadn’t.

Murray has kept a low profile, explaining in 2015 that he gained valuable lessons from the situation.

Oh my gosh, hearing him talk about his early days on *Dawson’s* just melts my heart! He told Cosmopolitan back in 2015 how incredibly lucky he was to learn from Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, and Josh Jackson. They’d already been doing this for years – like five or six, maybe even more! – and they totally took him under their wing. He had *no* idea about the technical stuff, like how lighting even worked, and they were so kind, always showing him the ropes whenever they had a moment. He’s so grateful for that experience, and honestly, so am I! It just shows how supportive the whole cast was.

Over the years, *Dawson’s Creek* featured a surprising number of well-known actors, including future stars like Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Julie Bowen, Scott Foley, Jensen Ackles, Hilarie Burton, Rachel Leigh Cook, Ali Larter, and Oliver Hudson.

Young Americans was a brief television series that followed Will Krudski (played by Rodney Scott), a friend of Pacey’s, and his experiences with fellow students at Rawley Academy, a boarding school.

Also starring Ian Somerhalder and Kate Bosworth, it was canceled after just one season.

The central romantic conflict of the show ended in the 2003 finale when Joey ultimately chose Pacey.

Originally, the creator had planned for a different couple to end up together, but while writing the last episode, they decided that wouldn’t fit with the overall story they were telling.

He shared at the ATX TV Festival that he aimed to create something fresh within the teen genre – a story that felt genuine, surprising, and explored the idea of soul mates in a realistic way. He explained the show’s ending was designed to show the characters as a complete family, with everyone achieving their desired outcomes and finding happiness. Ultimately, it was about providing a sense of fulfillment for both the characters and the audience.

He unexpectedly changed his decision, and the outcome became widely known. However, Williamson revealed that his mother, a member of Team Dawson, wasn’t pleased with the change.

The final episode jumped forward in time five years, and the group was grappling with the heartbreaking loss of Jen.

The death of a main character was meant to mark the definitive end of the group’s adolescence. According to creator Kenny Williamson, that’s why Jen Lindley died – to force the characters to confront loss and fully mature, solidifying the show’s coming-of-age theme.

Some of the executive producers who get their start on Dawson’s? 

Julie Plec, known for creating shows like *The Vampire Diaries* and *The Originals*, Greg Berlanti (who’s behind *Everwood*, *Arrow*, *The Flash*, *Riverdale*, and numerous films), Rob Thomas (*Veronica Mars*, *iZombie*), Jenny Bicks (*Sex and the City*), Anna Fricke (*Being Human*), Dana Baratta (*Jessica Jones*), and a host of other talented writers, all contributed to this project.

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2025-09-19 03:48