The Masked Singer paid tribute to former contestant James Van Der Beek after his demise at age 48.
“In loving reminiscence of our Griffin James Van Der Beek. March eighth 1977 – February 11, 2026,” a graphic learn within the opening moments of the Fox present’s Wednesday, February 11, episode.
James’ spouse, Kimberly Van Der Beekconfirmed the actor’s demise earlier on Wednesday after a protracted battle with colorectal most cancers. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning. He met his last days with braveness, religion, and charm,” Kimberly wrote by way of Instagram alongside a photograph of James. “There may be a lot to share relating to his needs, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. These days will come. For now we ask for peaceable privateness as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and buddy.”
James introduced he was battling stage 3 most cancers in November 2024 after being recognized with the situation the earlier 12 months. Regardless of his well being struggles, he appeared because the part-eagle-part-lion amalgamation Griffin on season 13 of The Masked Singermaking it six episodes earlier than he was uncovered by the judges.
“You realize, I’ve an enormous appreciation for nation music, or no less than I’m beginning to,” James advised the gang in a video package deal earlier than his elimination in March 2025. “See, after so a few years within the highlight, I moved my household to the nation. A spot the place we might stay quietly in nature. The sort of childhood I all the time dreamed of offering for my children, and it’s been precisely what my household and I wanted.”
He then shared perception into his well being journeyhinting that he acquired some “information that modified every little thing.”
“It’s been a extremely powerful 12 months. However luckily, we’ve been capable of face this problem collectively in our residence,” he continued. I’d not have gotten by this with out them. They make me smile on all of the powerful days and so they’re robust for me after I generally can’t be.”
Following his last efficiency — to “I Had Some Assist” by Publish Malone and Morgan Wallen — James was joined on stage with Kimberly and their six youngsters: Olivia, Joshua, Annabell, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Chatting with Individuals in an exit interview after he was recognized, James stated that taking part within the musical actuality sequence helped take his thoughts off the heavier features of his life.
“What was cool is, the viewers didn’t know,” he advised the outlet on the time. “In order a lot as I used to be coping with no matter I used to be coping with in my trailer and with the world, it was this nice escape to have the ability to placed on this masks and simply join with that viewers and never have most cancers be part of it in any respect.”
He added that it had been a “very, very, very long time” since he had sung publicly, however that he would “audition on a regular basis for summer season inventory” as a child.
“I’d go to open calls that I discovered in Backstage throughout my spring break in highschool,” he recalled. “That’s what I did. However I by no means actually booked something that means — I did one musical after I was 17, however I simply sort of sang with the ensemble.”
The forged of Dawson’s Creek shared their public assist for James Van Der Beek’s most cancers battle earlier than his demise. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning. He met his last days with braveness, religion, and charm,” James’ spouse, Kimberly Van Der Beek, wrote by way of Instagram in February 2026. “There may be a lot (…)
These auditions got here to a halt after he was forged as Dawson Leery on The WB’s Dawson’s Creeka present that ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. James costarred alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams on the sequence, which adopted the adolescent adventures of a bunch of teenagers residing in small city Massachusetts.
Dawson’s Creek catapulted James to fame on the small — and large — display screen, however the actor advised Those that he was nonetheless hoping to take the stage sooner or later after his success on The Masked Singer.
“I’d like to do Broadway,” he shared. “It could be a dream come true.”