A few days ago, Kaiser linked a video of David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Arquette on The Drew Barrymore Show. During that segment, the cast referred several times to late director Wes Craven who was responsible for the Scream franchise. I don’t know much about Wes beyond his films, but the cast really misses him. I guess he was much more than just a director to them. In David’s case, Wes truly changed the course of his life. According to David, if it wasn’t for Wes, he might never have dated Courteney. Apparently, Courteney had fallen for David, but he was doing anything about it. So Wes sat him down, told him to get his act together and ask her out. The rest, as they say, is history.
David Arquette and Courteney Cox’s Scream characters Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers fell in love onscreen under the direction of Wes Craven. And as Arquette, 50, tells it, the late director also played a role in the actor entering a relationship with Cox off-screen, too.
“Wes had a real impact,” Arquette tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “[He was] like, ‘David, you know she likes you and you should really get your stuff together.’ He gave me a real man-to-man talk and that had an impact on the course of my life.”
Arquette remembers being excited to first meet Cox. “I was a fan of hers,” he admits, adding of the rest of the cast, “everybody was really nice, so it was a great time.”
Courteney and David were married for 11 years before they separated and it took three years for their divorce to finalize. They have never been nasty to each and co-parent their daughter Coco beautifully. David is remarried with two more kids and Courteney’s relationship with Johnny McDaid seems to be pretty solid. Of Hollywood relationships, Courteney and David’s is one of the more successful. So Wes knew what he was doing to push these two together.
I wonder why David was dragging his feet in the first place? The way I read his comments, it wasn’t because David didn’t know Courteney was interested. My guess is he was intimidated. Courteney was Prime Monica when she walked on the Scream set. I’ve heard she’s a nice person but her place as a Friend cast a long shadow wherever she went, I’m sure. She was one of the biggest names on Scream, next to Drew. Whatever his reasons, David got over it and they had a lovely story together. Even if folks don’t stay married, it doesn’t mean they don’t get their Happily Ever After. Clearly, they are very close and adore the daughter they created. And I’m sure Wes is looking down on their families from where he is.
Photo credit: Avalon Red and Getty Images
Those who weren’t around in the Friends era don’t know how gorgeous Courney Cox was. I mean Rachel was the fashionista but Monica was stunning. Looking at their photos here, from a purely physical point of view, Arquette didn’t match up to her. But then again, I think very few men would.
Back in her Michael Keaton dating days, she truly was very stunning and photographs well, also. Sadly, they broke up.
I always thought she was absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous bone structure, eyes, features, skin. Jennifer Anniston is a very attractive woman and I like her as an actress, but I never got how she ended up getting the “most beautiful woman/person” label (which she did a few times) and Courtney didn’t. All three of them – Lisa, Courtney, Jennifer – were/are beautiful, in their own ways. But I could choose the face of any of them, it would be CC’s for sure.
She really was a gorgeous woman. It makes me sad that she ruined her face because she probably would have aged wonderfully, naturally. Kind of like Lynda Carter, who probably has had some botox here or there but doesn’t look overdone.
I believe the issue that caused David to drag his feet had to do with his drug abuse/addiction. IIRC, she supported him as he got sober. I hope I’m not totally wrong here and making things up! I swear I remember them doing a tv interview about it right after Friends ended and she was pregnant with Coco.
He’s spoken about how Wes Craven encouraged him to get sober too.
That’s interesting- that they split up but still got their Happily Ever After. I really do like that.
I always loved them as a couple. They produced a show together after Friends went off the air that I loved. And I thought their honesty around their infertility problems really showed that they’re nice people.
I can’t wait to see the new Scream movie! It won’t be the same without Wes Craven as his genius will be missed but I still love the franchise.
I think it’s really nice that they’ve continued to get along, coparent their daughter, and even work together. Their chemistry in the Scream films is very sweet and they both seem like nice people to me.
Didn’t David Arquette encourage the baby bangs hairstyle? I thought I read that somewhere.
Oh my goodness, Courteney Cox was so gorgeous. That face! I’m glad that she seems to have backed away from all of the work, she’s starting to look “normal” again.
They always seemed like an odd couple to me, but they seemed happy, and it’s great they get along now and are even working together again.
It sounds like Wes really cared about David and wanted to encourage him in many ways.
I don’t go on instagram much, but when I do, I enjoy Courteney’s posts.
I saw the new Scream last night. No spoilers! But it’s dedicated For Wes and one of the new teens is named Wes. He’s definitely loved and remembered.