Masked Singer Honors ‘Griffin’ James Van Der Beek Following His Passing

The Masked Singer honored former contestant James Van Der Beek following his passing at 48.

“In loving memory of our Griffin James Van Der Beek. March 8th, 1977 – February 11, 2026,” a graphic displayed during the opening of the Fox show on Wednesday, February 11.

James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his death earlier that day after a prolonged struggle with colorectal cancer. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” Kimberly posted via Instagram, accompanied by a photo of James. “We have much to share regarding his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time, which will come. For now, we request peaceful privacy as we mourn our dear husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

James revealed he was fighting stage 3 cancer in November 2024 after being diagnosed the year before. Despite his health issues, he appeared as Griffin—a hybrid of eagle and lion—in season 13 of The Masked Singer, participating in six episodes before being revealed by the judges.

“I have developed a newfound appreciation for country music,” James shared with the audience in a video montage before his elimination in March 2025. “After years in the spotlight, I relocated my family to the country—where we could live peacefully in nature. It’s the childhood I always wanted for my kids, and it’s precisely what my family and I needed.”

He also provided insight into his health journey, hinting that he received life-altering news.

“It’s been an incredibly challenging year, but we’ve managed to face this together at home,” he added. “I wouldn’t have made it through without them. They lift my spirits on the hardest days and remain strong when I can’t.”

Following his final performance of “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, James was joined on stage by Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabell, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.

In an exit interview with People, James stated that his time on the musical reality show offered him an escape from his personal struggles.

“What was unique is that the audience was unaware of my situation,” he explained at the time. “So, while I dealt with my challenges behind the scenes, it was a fantastic escape to wear the mask and connect with the audience without cancer coming into play.”

He shared that it had been a “very, very long time” since he last performed publicly, but he used to “audition regularly for summer stock” as a child.

“I’d attend open calls I found in Backstage during spring break in high school,” he reminisced. “That was my routine, but I never secured anything that way—except for one musical at 17, where I participated as part of the ensemble.”

His auditions came to an end with his casting as Dawson Leery on The WB’s Dawson’s Creek, which aired for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. James starred alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams in the series that depicted a group of teens navigating life in a small Massachusetts town.

Dawson’s Creek launched James to fame on both television and film, but the actor disclosed to People that he still aspired to tread the boards after his stint on The Masked Singer.

“I would love to do Broadway,” he expressed. “That would be a dream fulfilled.”