James Van Der Beek died on Wednesday, February 11, at the age of 48 after a long battle with colorectal cancer, and tributes to his memory have been pouring in.
On the night that Van Der Beek’s death was confirmed by his family, The Masked Singer paid tribute to the actor with a touching title card at the beginning of the episode.
“In loving memory of our ‘Griffin,’” read the card.
Van Der Beek was one of the contestants of Season 13 of the Fox reality competition. The actor was “Griffin” and was unmasked during the sixth episode of the season. During his time on the show, which aired at the beginning of 2025, he performed songs like “Rewrite the Stars,” Rihanna’s “Disturbia,” John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help.”
The Dawson’s Creek alum had been open about his cancer diagnosis, and after a lengthy battle with it, he died at the age of 48.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the family wrote on Instagram. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
A crowdfunding campaign for his family was set up, and it quickly surpassed $1.5M, with support from donors like Steven Spielberg and Jon M. Chu.
Remember Van Der Beek’s reveal on The Masked Singer in the video below.