Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 19, 2025 · Entertainment

Iconic '90s TV Mom Sends Heartfelt Birthday Cookies to Her Son: Who Is She?

Fans of one of the most beloved ¿90s teen dramas got a treat this week when one of its standout TV moms stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday

EXCLUSIVE SCOOP!

Get ready for a blast from the past, folks! We've got the juiciest celebrity scoop that will make your '90s-loving heart skip a beat!

This week, one of the most iconic TV moms from yesteryear stepped out in Los Angeles, and we're not talking about just any mom - we're talking about Gail Leery herself, Mary-Margaret Humes! The 71-year-old beauty looked absolutely stunning while visiting a hair salon in Beverly Hills, rocking a chic outfit that was far removed from the pageant gowns she wore back in her Miss Florida USA days (more on that later).

The gorgeous actress, now 71, is best known for playing Gail Leery¿ Dawson¿s mom¿on Dawson¿s Creek , and she looked incredible while visiting a hair salon in Beverly Hills

But what really caught our attention was the heartwarming story behind Mary-Margaret's recent birthday gift to her former TV son, James Van Der Beek. The Dawson's Creek alum celebrated his 47th birthday last year, and we're told he spent part of his special day waiting for a very special package from none other than Mary-Margaret herself!

In an Instagram post, James shared the sweet surprise with his followers: "It's my birthday and I just got a package from Fed Ex... it just arrived today from Mary-Margaret Humes, who played my mom on Dawson's Creek." He then went on to reveal that Mary-Margaret has been sending him fresh-baked cookies every year since his real-life mother passed away - talk about a TV mom's love and dedication!

But let's get back to the past for a moment. Did you know that Mary-Margaret Humes was once crowned Miss Florida USA in 1975? Yeah, we didn't either! And it gets even more fascinating - she finished as third runner-up at Miss USA that same year! Who knew that this beauty would go on to become one of the most beloved TV moms of all time?

Rocking a casual yet chic look of a striped oxford and faded blue jeans, her outfit was a far cry from the pageant gowns she once wore¿back when she was crowned Miss Florida USA and finished as third runner-up at Miss USA in 1975

Of course, Mary-Margaret's breakout role came when she played Gail Leery, Dawson's strong and supportive mother, on the iconic '90s teen drama Dawson's Creek. The show ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003, and we're told that Mary-Margaret's portrayal of Gail was a fan favorite - who wouldn't love a mom like Gail Leery?

But Mary-Margaret's acting career didn't stop there! She went on to appear in numerous TV shows, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Grey's Anatomy, and even had a recurring role on Criminal Minds. And let's not forget her Hallmark movie credits - it seems like this TV mom has got the whole "girl-next-door" thing down pat!

So there you have it, folks! Mary-Margaret Humes may be a Hollywood veteran, but she's still got that same warm and fuzzy feeling we love about her. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll see her back on our screens, bringing that same TV mom magic to a whole new generation of fans!

If you said Mary-Margaret Humes, you¿re absolutely right!; (seen in 2022)

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Of course, her most iconic role came in 1998 when she began her six-season run as Gail Leery, Dawson¿s strong and supportive mother on Dawson¿s Creek; (John Wesley Shipp, James Van Der Beek, Mary-Margaret Humes)

In 2024, Van Der Beek celebrated his 47th birthday, and the married father of six spent part of his day waiting for a special package from Humes

'Every year since my mother passed, my TV mom has baked me cookies on my birthday. It doesn't matter that I'm now older than she was when we first worked together, or that I've moved to Texas,' Van Der Beek said of Humes; (Van Der Beek shared this photo when he announced his mother, Melinda Van Der Beek, had passed away in July 2020 at the age of 70)