Dawson's Creek cast: Where are they now?

Dawson's Creek, then and now

On Jan. 20, 1998, viewers were first introduced to Capeside's teenage residents. Starring James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson, among others, Dawson's Creek ran for six seasons, coming to a close in May 2003. See the cast reunited on the cover of the 2018 issue of Entertainment Weekly (available here) and check out what the show's stars are up to now, ahead.

James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leary)

After popping up in episodes of Clarissa Explains It All and As the World Turns, James Van Der Beek led Dawson's Creek as title character Dawson Leary, appearing on the show for the entirety of its five-year run. During that time, Van Der Beek also hit the big screen in Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002).

After the show's wrap, the actor largely focused on small-screen work, appearing in episodes of Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty, One Tree Hill, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23, How I Met Your Mother, and Friends With Better Lives before joining CSI: Cyber in 2015. He held small roles in the Matt Damon-led film Downsizing (2017) and Hulu's Bad Hair (2020); appeared in 2018 episodes of FX series Pose (co-created by Ryan Murphy); and voiced Boris Hauntley on Disney Junior's Vampirina from 2017 to 2021.

Katie Holmes (Joey Potter)

After making her acting debut in The Ice Storm (1997), Katie Holmes joined Dawson's Creek as Joey Potter. She played the quintessential girl next door for the length of the show's run, also appearing in Disturbing Behavior (1999), Go (1999), Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), Wonder Boys (2000), The Gift (2000), Phone Booth (2002), and Pieces of April (2003) during that time.

After wrapping her run on the show in 2003, Holmes appeared in First Daughter (2004), Batman Begins (2005), The Romantics (2010), Jack and Jill (2011), The Giver (2014), Ocean's 8 (2018), CODA: Life With Music (2019), and Alone Together (2022), and returned to the small screen in episodes of Ray Donovan, The Kennedys, and The Kennedys: After Camelot.

Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley)

Michelle Williams first hit the small screen in 1993, making her acting debut in an episode of Baywatch. The actress followed the gig with appearances in Lassie (1994) and Species (1995) before signing on to play Jen Lindley on Dawson's Creek. Williams, who also booked gigs in Dick (1999), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and Prozac Nation (2001) during the show's run, largely focused on film work after saying goodbye to Capeside.

Her big-screen credits include several Academy Award nominations and turns in Brokeback Mountain (2005), Deception (2008), Blue Valentine (2010), Shutter Island (2010), My Week With Marilyn (2011), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), Manchester by the Sea (2016), The Greatest Showman (2017), All the Money in the World (2017), I Feel Pretty (2018), and After the Wedding (2019). Williams juped on the comic book movie bandwagon in 2018, starring opposite Tom Hardy in Venom and its 2021 sequel, and earned her fifth Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans—which granted celebration from her former Dawson's Creek costars.

Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter)

Dawson's Creek found its Pacey Witter in Joshua Jackson, who came into the role after appearing in The Mighty Ducks (1992) as Charlie Conway. Jackson played Pacey for the show's entire run, also earning credits for Cruel Intentions (1999), The Skulls (2000), and Gossip (2000).

Following the 2003 finale, the actor appeared in Shadows in the Sun (2005), Battle in Seattle (2007), Shutter (2008), and One Week (2008), and returned to television in 2008 as Peter Bishop on Fringe. Jackson is known for playing Cole Lockhart on The Affair from 2014 to 2019, and has appeared on When They See Us, Little Fires Everywhere, and Dr. Death. The actor also snagged the role of Dan Gallagher in Paramount+'s 2023 miniseries Fatal Attraction—a reinterpretation of the original 1987 film—in which he stars alongside Lizzy Caplan.

Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee)

As the World Turns alum Kerr Smith found his spot on Dawson's Creek as Jack McPhee. The actor appeared on the show for five years, also hitting the big screen in Final Destination (2000) during that time.

After wrapping his run, Smith did TV stints on Charmed, CSI: NY, Eli Stone, Life Unexpected, NCIS, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Fosters, Riverdale, and The Resident.

Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee)

Meredith Monroe booked her first major role as Dawson's Creek's Andie McPhee, playing the teenager over multiple seasons.

After the show's wrap, the actress largely focused on television work in the 2000s, appearing in TV movies and episodes of Joan of Arcadia, CSI: Miami, Fathers and Sons (2005), Bones, and Crossing Jordan. Monroe went on to earn credits for Psych, Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Criminal Minds, Hart of Dixie, The Edge of Seventeen (2017), and 13 Reasons Why.

Mary Beth Peil (Evelyn Ryan)

Dawson's Creek fans met Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn Ryan, better known as Grams. After spending decades on the stage as an opera singer and on Broadway, Peil made her onscreen acting debut in the '90s. She played Jen's grandmother for the show's six seasons, continuing her onscreen appearances in films like The Stepford Wives (2004), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Mirrors (2008), Collateral Beauty (2016), and Here and Now (2018), and episodes of The Good Wife, The Village, Katy Keene, and Halston.

Mary-Margaret Humes (Gail Leery)

After spending more than a decade in the industry, Mary-Margaret Humes joined Dawson's Creek as Gail Leery. The Eerie, Indiana alum played Dawson's mother for the length of the show's run and went on to appear in episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, and The Rookie, as well as in a handful of TV movies.

John Wesley Shipp (Mitch Leery)

As the World Turns and Guiding Light star John Wesley Shipp returned to television as Dawson's Creek's Mitch Leery. He played Dawson's father for three years, going on to earn credits for episodes of JAG, One Life to Live, Teen Wolf, Arrow, The Flash, and DC's Stargirl.

Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell)

After making her small-screen debut on Freaks and Geeks as Kim Kelly, Busy Philipps found her way to Dawson's Creek in the show's fifth season, playing Audrey Liddell.

After wrapping her run in Capeside, the actress continued her television work in episodes of Life as We Know It, ER, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and hit the big screen in White Chicks (2004), Made of Honor (2008), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), and I Don't Know How She Does It (2011). She also appeared alongside her Dawson's costar (and real-life BFF) Michelle Williams in I Feel Pretty (2018). Philipps continued with her television work as Cougar Town's Laurie Keller, Vice Principals' Gale Liptrapp, and Girls5eva's Summer Dutowsky, and fetched the role of Mrs. George for Paramount+'s film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, which is based on the original 2004 film.