In Capeside, these residents stick together.
Twenty-two years after last appearing on the hit WB drama, “Dawson’s Creek,” Mary-Margaret Humes is supporting her former on-screen son, James Van Der Beek.
The actress, 71, who played Dawson Leery’s mom, Gale Leery, during the show’s six-season run, from 1998 to 2003, revealed she privately battled colon cancer in 2007.
The news comes days before the “Dawson’s Creek” cast is set to reunite on Monday for an F Cancer benefit. The charity event will support Van Der Beek, 48, who announced in 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
“It was just about ready to break out of the wall,” Humes told Us Weekly in an interview published Tuesday. “It could’ve been a terrible situation, but we caught it in time. My doctor said we dodged a bullet, and it was all because of early detection.”
She added, “Cancers are survivable, but go out and get screened. Thankfully, that’s part of James’ journey.”
The “Motocrossed” alum and the “Varsity Blues” star have had many talks since his diagnosis.
“We’ve had multiple conversations that are very uplifting and spiritual,” Humes continued. “He knows I’ve got his back 100 percent. He’s going to get through this, and we’re all coming together.”
During the benefit, Humes, Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, and Meredith Monroe will do a live reading of the show’s pilot episode.
“It was a way for us to actually have a reunion, all of us together, and celebrate James’ life,” Humes explained to the outlet. “Because he’s dealing with a very difficult situation; very optimistic, but a difficult situation. Together as a TV family, we just thought we needed to be there for him and rally around him.”
Meanwhile, “Dawson’s Creek” alum Jason Moore is also set to direct and produce the show.
The 54-year-old will produce the reading alongside Williams, 45, her husband Thomas Kail, the show’s creator Kevin Williamson, Carl Ogawa, Maggie Brohn, and Greg Berlanti.
Philipps, 46, Smith, 53, and Monroe, 55, joined the series after Season 1 and will read various parts from the show’s pilot.
Williamson, 60, previously said about the reunion: “I am so excited to reunite with James, Michelle, Katie, Joshua, and our ‘Dawson’s Creek’ family for such a special night.”
“‘Dawson’s Creek’ changed my life,” the creator gushed. “What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed.”
“It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honored to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges,” Williamson concluded.
Williams also shared her own sentiments about the special night.
“We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime,” the actress detailed. “We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ feel the same way.”
The beloved series quickly rose to peak popularity after hitting the airwaves in the late ’90s.
Fans followed Joey (Holmes) as she navigated school after the death of her mother and juggled a love triangle with Dawson (Van Der Beek) and best friend Pacey (Jackson).
In July, viewers were sent into a frenzy after Holmes, 46, and Jackson, 47, reunited for an upcoming project.
The duo was spotted walking down a street in New York City.
Holmes later revealed on Instagram that they teamed up for “Happy Hours,” a new feature film trilogy she is set to write, direct and star in.
“I am so very grateful to be working again with so many of my wonderful friends on this film HAPPY HOURS,” she teased. “And working with Josh after so many years is a testament to friendship.”
“HAPPY HOURS is a love story that includes so many people I adore. We can’t wait for everyone to see what we make.”
While the gang is finding their way back together, in March, Van Der Beek confessed he didn’t speak to his co-stars for years following the end of the series.
“I’ve gotten in touch with them recently and it’s just been so nice,” he admitted while on Jana Kramer‘s “Whine Down” podcast.
“It’s just been so great to talk to them and catch up with like who they are now this many years out and to have that shared experience from back in the day,” expressed Van Der Beek. “It’s just so lovely every time I get to catch up with one of them.”
“We all went our separate ways and just didn’t speak for years because we were just living our lives and doing our things,” the actor added. “And to just kind of reconnect and be like, ‘Oh, wow, I love who you’ve become.’”
Despite paving his own career in the early 2000s, Van Der Beek doesn’t mind reminiscing.
“I have such a nostalgia for it,” he gushed. I don’t know whether it’s just time or what, but yeah.”
Three months later, Williamson chimed in on the possibility of a reboot.
“Not in television form. I think there’s other ways that [a ‘Dawson’s Creek’ revival] can come to fruition,” he admitted to The Post. “But I’m not so sure… I feel complete. I feel like we told the story.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
