Celebs you forgot were on 'Dawson's Creek'

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Before they were famous

Columbia TriStar Television (3)

Dawson’s Creek was a launching pad for the careers of Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and the rest of the gang — but the show’s stars aren’t the only ones who benefitted from appearing on The WB. The six seasons of the hit show played host to dozens of actors you (probably) forgot did time down at the Creek.

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Scott Foley: Cliff, Season 1

Columbia TriStar Television

Who could forget Dawson’s first nemesis, the popular jock who briefly dates Jen, played by the future Felicity and Scandal star?

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Seth Rogen: Bob, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

Audrey hits rock bottom and after sleeping with Bob, played perfectly by Rogen, he joins her on the road trip to rehab in LA.

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Jane Lynch: Mrs. Witter, Season 4

Columbia TriStar Television

We meet Pacey’s mom during his dysfunctional family birthday dinner, which was filled with whatever the opposite of glee is.

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Jensen Ackles: C.J., Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

The Supernatural star played a teen helpline counselor who dates Jen (despite having slept with Audrey!) in much of the final season.

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Rachael Leigh Cook: Devon, Season 2

Columbia TriStar Television

Just after starring in She’s All That, Cook played a model who meets Dawson at her college library, where he casts her as the lead in his short film.

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Tony Hale: Dr. Bronin, Season 4

Columbia TriStar Television

The Veep star makes a brief cameo as Mr. Brooks’ doctor who tasks Dawson with making a big decision about life support.

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Melissa McBride: Nina, Season 1/Melanie, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

The Walking Dead star first played a girl in a bar Dawson meets on a road trip. Later, she played Joey’s boss, but the scene was cut from the series finale.

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Chad Michael Murray: Charlie, Season 5

Columbia TriStar Television

The One Tree Hill star played the brooding musician who dates Jen until she finds out he has another girlfriend. He later sweeps Joey off her feet until she dumps him so he’ll go on tour.

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Julie Bowen: Aunt Gwen, Season 3

Columbia TriStar Television

The Modern Family actress was Dawson’s fun aunt who hosts the group for a weekend getaway and catches Joey and Pacey mid-kiss, pushing them to face the truth about their budding relationship.

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Jonathan Lipnicki: Buzz Thompson, Season 3

Columbia TriStar Television

The adorable Jerry Maguire star played a kid paired up with Pacey through a mentorship program.

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Pauley Perrette: Rachel Weir, Season 5

Columbia TriStar Television

The longtime NCIS star played the therapist Dawson goes to see after Mitch Leery (spoiler alert!) dies.

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Alexandra Breckenridge: Kate Douglas, Season 2

Columbia TriStar Television

The This Is Us actress had a small part as Jack’s ex-girlfriend who pays a visit to Capeside unaware that he’s come out.

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Sasha Alexander: Gretchen Witter, Season 4

Columbia TriStar Television

Before she starred on Rizzoli & Isles, Alexander played Pacey’s older sister who dates Dawson for much of his senior year.

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Meredith Salenger: Amy, Season 5

Columbia TriStar Television

Salenger, who recently married Patton Oswalt, had a tony arc as Boston movie critic who gives Dawson a tough time about screening his short film. The two ultimately hit it off, though, and spend the night together.

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Brittany Daniel: Eve, Season 3

Columbia TriStar Television

The Game actress portrayed one of, if not the, worst Dawson’s character. After Dawson meets the mysterious bad girl on a bus, the two have a short-lived romance and share an infamous intimate moment on stage at homecoming.

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Ali Larter: Kristy, Season 2

Columbia TriStar Television

Before breaking out in Varsity Blues, Larter was the popular girl in school Pacey always had a crush on.

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Jennifer Morrison: Melanie, Season 5

Columbia TriStar Television

The Once Upon a Time actress portrayed Pacey’s summer-at-sea fling, a rich law student named Melanie.

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Michael Pitt: Henry Parker, Season 3

Columbia TriStar Television

Pitt was the adorable freshman football player Jen had no interest in dating but his many attempts to win her affection — which includes selling his own blood for money to take her to a fancy restaurant — eventually wor.

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Jeremy Sisto: Christopher, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

The Clueless actor had a cameo as Joey’s boyfriend in the series finale flash-forward.

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Ken Marino: Professor Wilder, Season 5

Columbia TriStar Television

Joey and her married writing professor, played by Marino, grow close and share a forbidden kiss.

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Oliver Hudson: Eddie, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

The Nashville actor was Joey’s on-again, off-again collegeboyfriend, but on the heels of a trip to Europe, the two ends things for good.

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Madchen Amick: Nicole, Season 2

Columbia TriStar Television

One of a few Twin Peaks stars to have appear on the series, Amick played Dawson’s teacher who rips his movie apart, and then makes matters worse when she later dates his dad.

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Jason Behr: Chris Wolfe, Season 2

Columbia TriStar Television

The Roswell star recurred as a sometimes friend, mostly foe, who also has a one-night stand with Jen.

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Bianca Lawson: Nikki Green, Season 3

Columbia TriStar Television

The Buffy and Pretty Little Liars actress was an aspiring young filmmaker, who also happens to be Principal Green’s daughter, and connects with Dawson for obvious reasons.

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Jack Osbourne: Himself, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

Osbourne played himself and one of Audrey Liddell’s longtime family friends.

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Taylor Handley: Patrick, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

Before he terrorized on The O.C., the actor played a teen with an adorable infatuation with “older woman” Joey.

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Mika Boorem: Harley Hetson, Season 6

Columbia TriStar Television

The Blue Crush star played the angsty daughter of Joey’s professor.

Replay gallery

Account

Celebs you forgot were on Dawson's Creek

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Before they were famous

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Scott Foley: Cliff, Season 1

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Seth Rogen: Bob, Season 6

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Jane Lynch: Mrs. Witter, Season 4

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Jensen Ackles: C.J., Season 6

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Rachael Leigh Cook: Devon, Season 2

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Tony Hale: Dr. Bronin, Season 4

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Melissa McBride: Nina, Season 1/Melanie, Season 6

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Chad Michael Murray: Charlie, Season 5

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Julie Bowen: Aunt Gwen, Season 3

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Jonathan Lipnicki: Buzz Thompson, Season 3

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Pauley Perrette: Rachel Weir, Season 5

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Alexandra Breckenridge: Kate Douglas, Season 2

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Sasha Alexander: Gretchen Witter, Season 4

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Meredith Salenger: Amy, Season 5

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Brittany Daniel: Eve, Season 3

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Ali Larter: Kristy, Season 2

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Jennifer Morrison: Melanie, Season 5

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Michael Pitt: Henry Parker, Season 3

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Jeremy Sisto: Christopher, Season 6

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Ken Marino: Professor Wilder, Season 5

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Oliver Hudson: Eddie, Season 6

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Madchen Amick: Nicole, Season 2

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Jason Behr: Chris Wolfe, Season 2

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Bianca Lawson: Nikki Green, Season 3

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Jack Osbourne: Himself, Season 6

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