Dawson Leery

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Dawson Leery
First appearance	"Pilot"
Last appearance	"...Must Come to an End"
Information
Nickname(s)	"Oompa-Loompa"
Year of birth	February 27, 1983
Occupation	Film director
Family	Gail Leery (mother) Mitch Leery (father) Lillian Leery (sister)
Relationships	Jen Lindley, Joey Potter, Gretchen Witter, Natasha
Portrayed by	James van der Beek
Created by	Kevin Williamson

Dawson Wade Leery is the fictional lead character on the television series Dawson's Creek, played by James Van Der Beek.

His parents are Mitch and Gail Leery, and his sister is Lilly. His best friends are Joey Potter, who he's known since he was a child and is his soulmate, and Pacey Witter. Even though he and Joey did have a serious relationship, they considered themselves soulmates, but on a level which transcended romantic ties. Joey would last be seen romantically engaged with Pacey Witter. He originally lived in Capeside and went to Capeside High School with Joey, Pacey and his first girlfriend Jen Lindley.

An eternal optimist (at least originally), Dawson believes in the good old fashioned values of romance and honesty, and he also believes that you can find all of life's answers in a Steven Spielberg film. He was a keen filmmaker and made several low cost and amateur films, which were entered into film festivals across the country, and in some festivals his films won top prize.

After graduating, he studied film at USC, but soon dropped out and moved to Boston to be with his friends and to be with Joey. During his first year in Boston his father Mitch Leery was tragically killed in a car accident.

In 2003, Dawson embarks on a fun romance with Hollywood actress, Natasha; she is presumed to be a few years his senior. In the beginning of season 6, Dawson has a one night stand with Joey, and leaves a message on Natasha's answering machine, breaking up with her. The day after, Joey and Dawson argue and he returns to California. When Joey shows up to deliver food to the movie set at which Dawson works, Natasha, drunk and angry, explodes on Joey; subsequently, the director, Todd Carr, fires Dawson. Realizing she made a mistake, Natasha helps Dawson get his job back. After a few months and little white lies, Dawson assumes that she is having an affair with Todd for whom Dawson now works. Natasha and Dawson reunite and he brings her to Capeside for Christmas. Knowing that she cheated on him with a fellow actor (Max Winter), Dawson questions Natasha's intentions, to which she becomes angry. Realizing that he's not in love with Natasha, he breaks up with her, and the two part on good terms as Natasha returns to Hollywood.

Dawson later became the director and chief writer of the television program The Creek, a self-referential coming of age teen drama.

Dawson's Creek
Characters
Dawson Leery | Jen Lindley | Joey Potter | Pacey Witter
Locations
Capeside | Capeside High | Worthington University
Other
Young Americans | List of Dawson's Creek episodes