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Iconic ’90s TV mom who still sends cookies to her TV son after his real mother died looks unrecognizable in LA

BBG News

Lovers of one popular ’90s teen drama series had a delightful surprise this week, as one of its cherished TV mothers was spotted in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The beautiful actress, currently 71 years old, gained fame portraying Dawson’s mother, Gail Leery, on Dawson’s Creek, and she was stunning during her recent visit to a hairstylist in Beverly Hills.

Wearing a stylish blend of simplicity and elegance with a striped oxford shirt and faded blue denim, her attire stood in stark contrast to the grandeur of pageant dresses she donned in the past—specifically when she was titled Miss Florida USA and placed third runner-up at Miss USA in 1975.

She maintained a modest demeanor with stylish dark sunglasses, yet her captivating charm stood out distinctly; much like her prominent appearances on The Dukes of Hazzard and Grey’s Anatomy.

For many dedicated viewers, it’s no secret that this beloved actress continues a touching tradition by sending annual birthday cookies to her on-screen son, James Van Der Beek, following the passing of his actual mom.

Can you guess who she is?

If you said Mary-Margaret Humes, you’re absolutely right! 

In the year 2024, Van Der Beek marked his 47th birthday, and as a married man with six children, he spent part of that day anticipating a unique delivery from Humes.

On my birthday, I received a package delivered by FedEx, which had been sent to me that day by Mary-Margaret Humes, who portrayed my mother on Dawson’s Creek. In an Instagram post, he expressed this, adding that she has been sending him homemade cookies for his birthday in more recent times.

In the heading, Van Der Beek shared a heartfelt tale about the moving custom and the background of Hume’s annual gift.

Each year since my mother passed away, the woman I consider as my television mom has been baking me cookies for my birthday. Despite the fact that I am now older than she was during our initial collaboration and have relocated to Texas,” he penned down.

She creates them with care, reveals them to me, and does so sincerely – a gesture that always brings a warm feeling to my heart.

Hailing from Watertown, New York, Mary-Margaret initially gained nationwide recognition in 1975, when she was titled as Miss Florida USA.

In 1981, she first appeared in a movie, portraying Miriam the Vestal Virgin in Mel Brooks’ renowned comedy “History of the World, Part I.” This role brought her attention from the Hollywood industry almost immediately.

As a fortunate actress finding myself at the epicenter of Hollywood, I was handpicked by the legendary Aaron Spelling to shine in the pilot episode of his electrifying action-adventure series titled Velvet. I shared the screen with the talented Leah Ayres, Shari Belafonte, and Sheree J. Wilson, forming an unstoppable quartet that promised excitement for viewers everywhere.

In the vibrant ’80s, I graced numerous prime-time television screens, with a variety of memorable appearances on cherished shows such as The Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, The A-Team, The Love Boat, T.J. Hooker, and The Fall Guy.

During the early 90’s, she portrayed the mother of the lead character in the offbeat television series “Eerie, Indiana,” which aired on NBC. Additionally, she made appearances in numerous episodes of “Matlock” as various characters, with credits also in “Diagnosis: Murder,” “Murphy Brown,” and “In the Heat of the Night.

Absolutely, her most memorable character was Gail Leery, the resilient and nurturing mother of Dawson, a role she played from 1998 to 2003 on Dawson’s Creek.

Following the conclusion of the show in 2003, Humes shifted gears and took on guest appearances in shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and CSI. Moreover, he won over hearts in a series of movies produced by Hallmark.

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2025-07-19 16:48

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