Len Goodman, the professional ballroom dancer who was best known for his time judging ‚Dancing with the Stars,‘ has died.
Len Goodman, the professional ballroom dancer who was best known for his time judging Dancing with the Stars, has died. He was 78.
Goodman was “surrounded by family” when he passed away on Saturday (April 22) in a hospice in Kent, southern England following a battle with bone cancer, his manager confirmed to CNN.
The beloved dance coach was born in London in 1944. According to his website, he began dancing professionally at 19 years old. He retired from dancing in his late twenties after he won the British Championships in Blackpool.
Goodman first began judging on Britain’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, where he remained until 2016. He joined the American version of the competition show — Dancing with the Stars — in 2005, where he stayed until his retirement last year.
In November 2022, Goodman announced that he wouldn’t be returning to the hit dance show — which had moved in its most recent season from network TV to Disney+.
“It has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show,” he said at the time, per USA Today. “But I’ve decided I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain. I could not thank you enough, my Dancing with the Stars family, it’s been such a wonderful experience for me.
