Fans of the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek were in for a treat last week when Mary-Margaret Humes, who famously portrayed Gail Leery, Dawson Leery’s mother, was spotted out and about in Los Angeles. The 71-year-old actress made a rare public appearance while visiting a Beverly Hills hair salon on July 11.
A Casual Yet Stylish Look
Humes was dressed casually yet stylishly for the outing. She wore slim-fitting light-wash jeans, a striped linen button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and sandals. She accessorized with a brown handbag slung over her shoulder and black aviator-style sunglasses. Adding a pop of flair, Humes also wore a floral-print belt and a beaded bracelet.
Reconnecting with Co-Stars
While Humes may keep a low profile in public, she’s remained close with her Dawson’s Creek co-stars. In June, Humes reunited with Michelle Williams, who played Jen Lindley on the show, at an event celebrating Williams’ Hulu series Dying for Sex.
Humes shared a heartfelt series of photos from the reunion on Instagram, showcasing a 22-year-long-awaited hug between the two actresses.
She captioned the photos: “Our first hug in over 22 years … embracing the joy of life with beautiful Michelle Williams at last night‘s #DyingForSex celebration.” Humes went on to praise Williams’ performance in the series, saying, “If you haven’t already seen this limited series … you should. She is brilliant in it. #memories #dawsonscreek.”
In her Instagram Stories, she added, “A long-awaited reunion with this radiant light.”
A Heartwarming Tradition with James Van Der Beek
Off-screen, Humes’ bond with her on-screen son James Van Der Beek (who played Dawson Leery) remains strong. In 2023, Van Der Beek shared a sweet tradition in an Instagram post, revealing that Humes sends him homemade cookies on his birthday every year since his mother’s passing.
“My onscreen mom marks my birthday in a special way,” he shared, adding, “Every year since my mother died, [Humes] makes me cookies and sends them to me on my birthday.”
Van Der Beek’s mother, Melinda Weber, passed away in July 2020 at the age of 70. The heartfelt gesture speaks volumes about the strong relationship between the Dawson’s Creek cast members.
Van Der Beek continued, “I have the best TV momma on the planet,” expressing his gratitude for the ongoing tradition. He later confirmed in a birthday post that Humes’ cookie tradition continued on his 47th birthday in March 2023, calling her “the best TV mom” and acknowledging the deep affection he feels for her.
In his post’s caption, he reflected on how much the gesture meant to him. “It doesn’t matter that I’m now older than she was when we first worked together, or that I’ve moved to Texas,” he wrote. “She bakes them, and finds me, and does it from the bottom of her heart — and it always warms mine.”
Life After Dawson’s Creek
Since her role as Gail Leery, Mary-Margaret Humes has kept busy with various projects, including starring in several TV movies. Most recently, she appeared in Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance in 2023.
Although Humes has not appeared in the public eye as frequently in recent years, her ongoing connections with her Dawson’s Creek family and her loving gestures toward her co-stars keep her presence felt in the hearts of fans.
