Decades after the popular 90s drama "Dawson's Creek" concluded its six-season run in 2003, members of its cast have faced a series of personal tragedies, health battles, and significant life changes.

Most recently, actress Busy Philipps, 47, revealed on Wednesday that she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in February. The diagnosis came shortly after the death of her former co-star, James Van Der Beek, 48, from colon cancer. Philipps underwent surgery in early March to remove a 2.6-centimeter tumor, described as a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a slow-growing type found in approximately 1,100 to 1,300 people annually in the U.S. She had no prior symptoms and the lesion was discovered during a full-body MRI scan, which she scheduled the day after Van Der Beek's death. "I'm grateful that I'm alive," Philipps stated, calling the past six months "the weirdest" of her life. The tumor was found to be malignant, though her doctor indicated it has a favorable prognosis among malignant gliomas. In April, Philipps required a second surgery due to a staphylococcus infection at the incision site.

James Van Der Beek, who played the titular character Dawson Leery, passed away in February. His wife announced his death on Instagram, stating he died "peacefully this morning" after courageously facing his battle with colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek had publicly shared his diagnosis in November 2024. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. During his time on "Dawson's Creek," Van Der Beek was a prominent teen heartthrob and also starred in films like "Varsity Blues" and "The Rules of Attraction." In his later years, he transitioned to smaller screen roles and took a step back from the spotlight, moving his family to a ranch in Austin, Texas, in 2020.

Michelle Williams, 45, who portrayed Jen Lindley, has achieved significant career success since the show, earning four Oscar nominations and two Golden Globe awards. She starred in "Brokeback Mountain" (2004), where she met her partner Heath Ledger. They welcomed a daughter, Matilda, in October 2005, but separated in 2007. Ledger died three months later from an accidental drug overdose at age 28. Williams has spoken about the profound loss for her daughter, stating it "just won't ever be right" that Matilda doesn't have her father.

Joshua Jackson, 47, who played Pacey Witter, has also had a notable career in television, appearing in "Fringe" and "Doctor Odyssey." His personal life has included marital challenges; he divorced actress Jodie Turner-Smith in 2022 after four years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple has a five-year-old daughter, Juno, and their custody agreement became a point of contention. In addition to these challenges, Jackson lost his $2 million home in Topanga Canyon to wildfires last year. He had previously purchased the property as an adult, where he spent part of his childhood.

Katie Holmes, 47, known for her role as Joey Potter, experienced significant public attention following her high-profile marriage and divorce from Tom Cruise in 2012. The couple, who married in 2006 and share a daughter, Suri, finalized their divorce with Holmes gaining sole custody of their child. Holmes has spoken about prioritizing her daughter's upbringing and has recently shifted her career focus towards directing. Her latest project, "Happy Hours," co-stars Joshua Jackson and involves her writing and directing a series of films.

Other figures associated with "Dawson's Creek" have also faced hardship. Actor Obi Ndefo, who played Bodie Wells, died in November 2024 at age 51. This followed a severe car crash in August 2019 that resulted in the amputation of both his legs. Ndefo had been struck by a drunk driver. Writer Heidi Ferrer died by suicide in 2021 at age 50, after a prolonged 13-month battle with debilitating COVID-19 symptoms that left her bedridden and in pain. Her husband noted that it took months for her to receive a diagnosis and referral for long-haul COVID treatment, which arrived the day before her death.