The Masked Singer paid tribute to their former participant James Van Der Beek after his death.
In the opening moments of FOX’s Wednesday, February 11 show, it graphically read: “In loving memory of our Griffin James Van Der Beek. March 8, 1977 – February 11, 2026.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the American actor’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced the tragic news of his death at the age of 48.
She captioned a photo of him on Instagram: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace.”
“There is much to share about his wishes, love for humanity and the sanctity of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
In November 2024, the Dawson’s Creek star revealed he battled stage 3 colorectal cancer after being diagnosed in 2023.
James stated that he ignored subtle bowel movements because “there was no red flag or anything noticeable.”
He said, “I was healthy. I did the cold plunge. I had great cardiovascular fitness and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea.”
James notably appears as the amalgamation of part eagle and part lion Griffin The Masked Singer season 13 despite his battle with stage 3 cancer.
