After being the mother bee of the series with Dawson and the other kids, she became queen of Hallmark movies — she’s starred in an astounding number, though she’s only really had to learn one script.
Other than “Dawson’s Creek,” she hasn’t been in many huge productions, though she did have a part in “Mel Brook’s History of the World Part I” as Miriam. She guest-starred in plenty of shows over the years. If you watch television, you’ve probably seen her. She’s been married to her husband Raul Bruce since 1992. Fun fact: she got third place runner-up in the Miss USA title in 1975.
James van der Beek Playing Dawson
There would be no Dawson without James. The actor is in his forties, married to Kimberly, and is the father of four children. He never got back up to the level of fame he had while on “Dawson's Creek.” He has made a few appearances, such as on “Dancing With The Stars” in 2019, as well as “How I Met Your Mother” and “Criminal Minds.”
He once talked about being in fear of girls his age during his time on the show. Apparently, more than once, someone would approach him for an autograph — which he would gladly sign because he's such a dude — and before he knew what was happening, there would be a mob.
Dawson's Mom Gail
Not only did Gail was a good mother for her children, including Dawson, but she was the parental substitute for Joey, whose father was incarcerated, and her mother died of cancer.
It took plenty of energy and smarts to keep up with the four main kids of the series, but Gail never faltered, even after her husband (Dawson's father) Mitch died in season five. While she did cheat on him (while he was alive, obviously), she realized what she had done was wrong, and the couple stayed together. There was hardly anyone who watched the show and didn't wish, at least a little bit, that Gail was their mother.
Dawson's Dad Mitch
A caring father. A loving husband. A good man. Mitch Leery was all of these and more, which made his death from a car accident in season five all the more heart-breaking. Not only for viewers, too — Dawson's big storyline in the season was dealing with the loss of his father.
In the very first episode, he gave Dawson some unforgettable advice: “Sex is a big part of who we are as human beings.” He encouraged Dawson to treat sexuality as a good thing but not to misuse or abuse it. He worked numerous jobs in Capeside, including as a camp counselor and owner of Leery's Fresh Fish.
John Wesley Shipp Playing Mitch
Younger audiences may know Mitch's actor John Wesley Shipp as Dr. Henry Allen on The CW's “The Flash.” You may have also seen him on “Teen Wolf” or “One Life to Live.” He still often acknowledges getting his start on “Dawson's Creek.” He's been in numerous movies, including “The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter,” as well as plenty of other TV shows and movies.
The CW show isn't even the first time he played Barry Allen – he played the character, the original Flash, in “The Flash” television show from 1990 to 1991. He's made plenty of other appearances in other DC projects.