Start your day with positivity and celebrate the love between James and Kimberly Van Der Beek! The cast of *Dawson’s Creek* recently came together in New York City on September 22nd for a charity event supporting F Cancer, an organization James is supporting while battling colorectal cancer. It was a wonderful display of support and affection.
The actor who played Dawson couldn’t be there because he was sick with a stomach virus, but he sent a video message and Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in as his replacement. His wife and their six children attended and joined the rest of the cast onstage to sing the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait.” Kimberly, his wife, shared on Instagram on September 23rd that the night was incredibly meaningful for their family and that she felt her husband’s presence throughout the theater. She expressed her gratitude for the love, support, and prayers, stating that he would always be in her heart.
He’s been with his current partner since 2010, after meeting her on a trip to Israel following his divorce from Heather McComb.
He later shared on Instagram that he was ready for a serious relationship after being single. “I wanted a soul mate and someone to build a family with,” he explained. He was in the middle of telling a friend this when a woman interrupted, and he was initially annoyed.
It turned out she was the one he’d been hoping to find.
He continued, recalling that just three days later, he asked her what she wanted in a relationship, and she told him she wasn’t looking for one. Despite this, they were living together six months later.
Oh my gosh, I’ve been following Kimberly and James for years, and it’s just so amazing! Did you know they found out they were expecting Olivia right after they moved in together? She told *People* magazine that she got pregnant just two days after they started living together – can you believe it? It was six months into their relationship, and she was seven months pregnant at their wedding on August 1st, 2010! Then, just a couple of months later, sweet Olivia arrived. And it didn’t stop there! They went on to have Joshua, Annabelle, Emilia, and Gwendolyn. It sounds like a dream, right? But it wasn’t always easy. Kimberly has shared that she actually suffered five miscarriages while trying to grow their family. She talked about it on *The Make Down Podcast* and explained how she had Olivia and Joshua, then a miscarriage, then Annabelle, another miscarriage… it just kept happening. The last two were so heartbreaking – late-term losses, one even while James was on *Dancing With the Stars* in 2019 and another in the summer of 2020. It’s just… wow. They’ve been through so much, and I admire their strength so much!
The family decided to move from California to Texas, hoping for a fresh start. As Kimberly explained to City Lifestyle in 2021, they wanted to reconnect with nature and focus on their overall well-being. In October 2021, they privately welcomed their son, Jeremiah, who is now three years old. Kimberly shared on Instagram in 2022 that they hadn’t been planning to have more children, but were happily surprised by Jeremiah’s arrival. She joked that it was a reminder to let go of rigid plans and embrace unexpected blessings, and expressed gratitude for the surprise and their unexpected pregnancy.
In August 2023, James received a shocking diagnosis of stage 3 colorectal cancer. He shared his story publicly in November 2024, hoping to encourage others to get early screenings. While facing this difficult challenge, James remained optimistic, viewing it as a chance to make positive changes in his life. He admitted to moments of fear, but largely focused on gratitude. Throughout everything, his wife, Kimberly, has been his unwavering support. He credits her with teaching him the meaning of unconditional love and says he couldn’t face this battle without her. On their 15th anniversary, James publicly thanked Kimberly for her incredible strength and devotion, saying she not only saved his life but also showed him how to truly live. He promises to share the full story of her support in the future.
While Fox was first to pick up Dawson’s Creek, it subsequently dumped the teen drama.
At the 2015 ATX TV Festival, series creator Kevin Williamson explained that the network was already having difficulties with the show *Party of Five* and didn’t want to take on another struggling series.
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 producers 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 was based on a real place called Dawson’s Creek where he and his friends spent their childhoods. He said the character Pacey was named after someone he knew only through a friend – a name he found unique and memorable.
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, the network prohibited the use of the word “masturbate,” so Williamson used a more subtle phrase instead.
Before Katie Holmes became known as America’s darling, 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 played her that way. We almost cast Selma Blair, who gave a fantastic performance – she portrayed the character as strong but also very heartfelt, according to Williamson.
I swear, the moment I saw Holmes on the audition tape – those eyes, those *big* eyes – I just knew. We all knew. That was Joey. It was destiny, honestly! I’d been praying for the perfect casting, and right then, I was like, ‘That’s him! That’s *our* Joey!’
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 correct. That’s when I decided he’d be perfect as Pacey, because I was determined to have him on the show no matter what.
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 the marriage ended in divorce in 2002, which he later described as a difficult and costly three years.
Dawson’s Creek became so popular that American Eagle inked a deal in 2000 to outfit the actors.
Throughout the third season, the show’s characters were primarily dressed in American Eagle clothing. The cast also promoted the brand in ad campaigns, which helped American Eagle earn over $105 million in 2001.
When James Van Der Beek was first cast, the studio wanted him to change his hair.
He remembered telling The Daily Beast in 2012 that an advertisement for the movie *The Devil’s Own*, starring Brad Pitt, sparked his iconic first-season haircut. They asked about Brad Pitt’s hairstyle, and that’s what inspired his own.
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 began dating someone the previous year, hinting it was Michael Jackson. She described falling in love for the first time, calling it an amazing and unforgettable experience she would always cherish. She also expressed gratitude that they remained close and were now good friends, comparing their relationship to the platonic connection between characters Dawson and Joey on 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 personally and professionally.
When Kerr Smith agreed to play Joey’s boyfriend on the show, he didn’t realize his 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, and then have him come out and explore how Joey would react-which would ultimately bring her back to [Dawson].
Interestingly, Williamson has revealed that he based every character on the show, even Jack, on aspects of himself.
He explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that every character in the show reflects a part of his own personality. He’d recently come out to his parents as gay in his twenties and wanted to portray that experience – and that side of himself – through a character on the show.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by authentic storytelling, and Jack’s coming out episode is a perfect example. What many viewers don’t realize is that it wasn’t just creatively imagined – it was actually inspired by real-life experiences. The writers, including David Williamson and the incredible Greg Berlanti, drew from true events to craft a really powerful and relatable narrative.
Berlanti shared a story about a friend who was unintentionally revealed to be gay, as told to EW. Apparently, his friend wrote a love poem that everyone recognized was about a man.
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 this friend proves you don’t need to find love in a romantic partner – that person is 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 major event, and James 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 for his role 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 during his initial time in North Carolina, where *OTH* was later filmed.
In a 2009 interview, Philipps publicly called the person “a douche,” and then added, “I’m not too concerned about damaging my relationship with CMM.”
Van Der Beek commented that Chad Michael Murray has improved a lot. After the panel discussion, Philipps joked on Twitter that she might have been too critical of him, but then decided she wasn’t.
Murray, on the other hand, has remained quiet about the situation, stating in 2015 that he gained valuable lessons from it.
When I joined the cast of *Dawson’s Creek*, I was lucky enough to learn from actors who were a few years ahead of me, like Michelle, James, Katie, and Josh. They had already been working for five or six years, and were always willing to help me understand things. I was completely new to the technical side of acting – I didn’t even know how lighting worked! – and I really appreciate them taking the time to show me the ropes. I’m grateful for that experience.
Over the years, *Dawson’s Creek* featured a surprising number of well-known actors, including future stars alongside already established names. Some of those who appeared on the show were 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 the Rawley Academy boarding school.
Also starring Ian Somerhalder and Kate Bosworth, it was canceled after just one season.
The central romantic conflict of the show wrapped up in the 2003 finale when Joey ultimately chose Pacey.
Originally, the show’s creator, Williamson, planned for a different couple to end up together. However, while writing the final episode, he decided that pairing wouldn’t fit the overall story he was trying to tell.
He shared at the ATX TV Festival that he aimed to create a fresh take on teen dramas, one that felt genuine and explored the idea of soul mates in a realistic way. He explained that the ending was designed to show the characters as a close-knit family, with each person achieving their desires and finding happiness. It was about providing a sense of completion and fulfillment for everyone involved.
He unexpectedly changed his decision, and the outcome became widely known. However, Williamson later revealed that his mother, a member of Team Dawson, wasn’t pleased with the turn of events.
The final episode jumped forward five years and showed the group coping with the heartbreaking loss of Jen.
The death of a main character was meant to mark the final step in the characters’ journey to adulthood. As creator Kevin Williamson explained, the decision to kill Jen was deliberate. “It was about forcing them to confront a loss within their group, serving as that ultimate life lesson,” he said, emphasizing that the show was always intended as a coming-of-age story.
Some of the executive producers who get their start on Dawson’s?
Julie Plec, the creator of shows like *The Vampire Diaries* and *The Originals*, Greg Berlanti (known for *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 have all contributed to this project.
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2025-09-24 16:48