Dawson’s Creek Star Mary-Margaret Humes Spotted in Rare Public Outing in L.A.

Mary-Margaret Humes was spotted making a rare public outing in Los Angeles last week.

The Dawson’s Creek actress was photographed visiting a Beverly Hills hair salon on July 11. She was dressed casually in a pair of slim-fitting, light-wash jeans, a striped linen button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled, and sandals.

The 71-year-old had a brown handbag slung over her shoulder and sported a pair of black aviator-style sunglasses. She also accessorized with a floral-print belt and a beaded bracelet.

Humes famously portrayed Gail Leery, the mother of titular character Dawson Leery (played by James Van Der Beek), in the hit teen drama, which aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. The series — which followed a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts — also starred Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams.

The cast of the beloved show has kept in touch over the years. Last month, Humes and Williams, 44, reunited at an event for the latter’s Hulu series Dying for Sex.

Humes shared a series of photos on Instagram on June 8 showing the pair catching up and sharing an emotional hug. “Our first hug in over 22 years … embracing the joy of life with beautiful Michelle Williams at last night‘s #DyingForSex celebration,” she wrote. “If you haven’t already seen this limited series … you should. She is brilliant in it. #memories #dawsonscreek.”

Humes also shared the photos on her Instagram Stories with the caption: “A long-awaited reunion with this radiant light.”

In 2023, Van Der Beek, 48, revealed that his onscreen mom marks his birthday in a special way.

“Every year since my mother died, [Humes] makes me cookies and sends them to me on my birthday,” he captioned a clip on his Instagram Stories that showed his kids helping themselves to the treats. “I have the best TV momma on the planet.”

Van Der Beek’s mother, Melinda Weber, died in July 2020 at the age of 70.

Last year, on his 47th birthday on March 8, the actor confirmed that Humes’ sweet tradition continued. He shared a video on Instagram, telling fans, “It’s my birthday and I just got a package — a FedEx that arrived today from Mary-Margaret Humes, who played my mom on Dawson’s Creek.”

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“Of all the boys who have ever been on television, I for sure had the best TV mom,” Van Der Beek added, before giving Humes a sweet shout-out: “I love you.”

In the post’s caption, he shared more about Humes’ touching annual birthday gesture.

“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.”

Since her Dawson’s Creek years, Humes has starred in a number of TV movies, most recently Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance in 2023.