James Van Der Beek found a great escape in Masked Singer
'Dawson's Creek' star James Van Der Beek is grateful for his appearance on 'The Masked Singer', because it provided him with an "escape" from his colorectal cancer diagnosis - and he now dreams of singing on Broadway.
James Van Der Beek says 'The Masked Singer' was "a great escape" from his cancer diagnosis.
The 48-year-old star revealed last year he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and earlier this week he was unmasked as Griffin on the Fox singing competition.
James has now admitted he "felt pretty good" while filming the show, and he enjoyed not having "cancer be a part of it all" while he was wearing a mask and singing to the audience.
He told PEOPLE: "I felt pretty good.
"There were some things we had to look out for, and I told my dressers.
"But what was cool is, the audience didn't know. So as much as I was dealing with whatever I was dealing with in my trailer and with the world, it was this great escape to be able to put on this mask and just connect with that audience and not have cancer be a part of it at all."
The 'Dawson's Creek' star is currently in a "healing portal" amid his cancer battle.
He added: "Right now I'm in a healing portal, so once I feel like it's responsible and safe to really give any more details to that I will."
Following his 'Masked Singer' appearance, James is now dreaming of singing on Broadway.
He said: "I had not sung in public in a very, very long time.
"It was something that I used to do when I was younger, but it was also something I didn't have a ton of confidence in."
"I would love to do Broadway. It would be a dream come true!"
Earlier this month, dad-of-six James spoke about the "hardest year of [his] life" following his cancer diagnosis.
He said on Instagram: "I had to come nose to nose with death. And all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.
"I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn't working. I couldn't even be a steward of the land because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you're supposed to prune them."
