Humes Helped Ease Dawson's Creek Co-Star Tensions
Kerr Smith's new memoir recounts an anecdote about on-set friction between James Van Der Beek and Joshua Jackson during the show's run.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Celebrities
Mary-Margaret Humes helped ease on-set tensions between James Van Der Beek and Joshua Jackson during Dawson's Creek, according to a story tied to the publication of Kerr Smith's memoir I Don't Wanna Wait: My Life on Dawson's Creek. Smith joined the cast in season two, when low-grade, unspoken tension between the male actors was noticeable.
Why it matters
The anecdote offers a firsthand account of behind-the-scenes dynamics on one of the era's best-known teen dramas. It shows how a cast member's intervention helped two co-stars move past friction that had lingered on set.
The account comes from a first-person memoir rather than a documented record, with the screening dated to 2000. Details of the tension itself, and the precise sequence of events, rest on Smith's recollection and remain unverified.
The players
Mary-Margaret Humes
Humes is an actress who played a role on Dawson's Creek and is credited with easing tensions between her co-stars.
James Van Der Beek
Van Der Beek was the star of Dawson's Creek and was one of the two actors at the center of the on-set tension.
Joshua Jackson
Jackson was a co-star of Dawson's Creek who later invited the cast and crew to the screening of his film The Skulls.
Kerr Smith
Smith is an actor who joined the Dawson's Creek cast in season two and published the memoir I Don't Wanna Wait: My Life on Dawson's Creek.
The details
Humes picked Van Der Beek up and drove him to the screening after he called to say he would not attend, arguing that showing up was the right thing to do and that the tension was a passing phase early in the show's run. Jackson hugged Humes and thanked Van Der Beek, and the two actors began to bury the hatchet after the event.
Timeline
2000: Jackson invites the cast and crew to the screening of his film The Skulls.
Season two: Smith joins the Dawson's Creek cast as tension between the male actors is noticeable.
November 10, 2026: Article about Smith's memoir and the anecdote is published.
Big Picture
Cast memoirs from the Dawson's Creek era have become a primary source for behind-the-scenes accounts of the series. Smith's book adds a firsthand perspective on the friction between its lead actors during the show's run.
For readers, the account is a reminder that the on-screen dynamics of long-running shows often reflect real-world relationships among cast members. It can change how fans view the actors involved and the history of the series.
The takeaway
Behind-the-scenes friction is common on long-running series, and cast members often shape how it is resolved. Revisiting such accounts can offer a clearer picture of how a show's relationships developed over time.
Further reading
Explore more Celebrities coverage for context on the stars behind this behind-the-scenes account.
