Meet the Real Life Loves of the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Cast
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Dawson’s Creek was full of heart-wrenching breakups and sweet makeups, but in real life, much of the cast is happily in love.
When the hit teen drama aired in 1998, it followed wannabe filmmaker Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), his childhood best friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), close friend Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) and the new girl next door, Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams). Six seasons later, the foursome experienced countless romantic ups and downs — and one surprising pairing ultimately captured viewer’s hearts as one of TV’s most beloved couples.
Now, the romantically entangled teens of the fictional Capeside, Mass., town have moved on and grown up — and many of them have settled down with a partner and welcomed children of their own. James has been married to his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, since 2010, while Williams wed her husband, Thomas Kail, in 2020. Both couples have gone on to start families of their own.
On Sept. 22, much of the original cast gathered in New York City for the Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event, which included a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek, who announced in November 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Though he dropped out one day earlier due to illness, his wife (and their six kids!) attended in his honor — and gathered with the cast as Van Der Beek made a surprise virtual appearance.
From James Van Der Beek’s wife to Michelle Williams’ husband, meet the real-life loves of the Dawson’s Creek cast.
James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek
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After meeting on a trip to Israel in 2009, James and his wife Kimberly wed in 2010 with their first baby on the way. Now, the two are parents to six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Michelle Williams and Thomas Kail
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Williams worked with director Kail on Fosse/Verdon in 2018. At the time, the actress was married to Phil Elverum. The following year the couple split and by December 2019, Williams and Kail were engaged and expecting their first child.
In June 2020, the couple welcomed their first child together, a son named Hart, and in November 2022 welcomed their second child. The actress and Kail quietly welcomed their third child together via surrogate in 2025. (Williams is also mom to daughter Matilda, who she shares with the late Heath Ledger.)
Joshua Jackson
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Jackson, who dated his on-screen love interest Holmes around the time of the series, married Jodie Turner-Smith in 2019. The pair welcomed a daughter together, but in 2023, Turner-Smith filed for divorce.
In December 2023, Jackson and Lupita Nyong’o confirmed a romance after first being spotted together shortly after the divorce was made public. In October 2024, though, Nyong’o revealed she was single.
Mary Margaret Humes and Raul A. Bruce
Mary-Margaret Humes/Instagram
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Gale Leery on the series, married husband Raul A. Bruce in 1992.
For the couple’s 30th anniversary in 2022, Humes shared a sweet photo of the couple along with the message, “On this day 30 years ago I married my best friend … the one I laugh with…live for … love … best decision ever!! 🌅🧡.”
Nina Repeta and Mike Repeta
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Nina Repeta, who played Katie Holmes’ on-screen sister Bessie Potter, is married to Mike Repeta. The longtime couple are parents to son Banks Repeta, who has followed in his mom’s footsteps with a role in 2022’s Armageddon Time.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
