Len Goodman, the longtime judge of “Dancing With the Stars,” has died after a battle with bone cancer. He was 78.
“It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78,” Jackie Gill, Goodman’s manager, said in a statement. “A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”
The British ballroom dancer died surrounded by family at a hospice in Kent, England.
Goodman was head judge on the British version of the celebrity competition, “Strictly Come Dancing,” from its launch in 2004 until 2016. He joined “DWTS” when it premiered in the US in 2005 through 2022.
Goodman revealed last year that he would be retiring from “DWTS,” with Season 31 — which premiered on its new home at Disney+ last fall — being his last season after 17 years as a judge.
“I got the call to be a judge three days before the first show,” he said at the time of his departure announcement, via Variety. “Little Len! Who am I? I’m just a dance teacher from Dartford. Suddenly, I’m thrust into Hollywood. I got the reputation for being the tough judge, because what I see is what I say.”
Len Goodman died at 78 after a battle with bone cancer.
Goodman — born as Leonard Gordon Goodman in London in 1944 — began dancing at 19 years old when a doctor told him up-and-down movement would be good for his feet after sustaining a foot injury, the Guardian reported in 2006.
Among his achievements as a dancer was winning the British National Championships in Blackpool in his late 20s. After his big win, he retired from being a dancer to shift his career to become a professional judge, teacher and choreographer.
BBC’s Director General Tim Davie paid tribute to the music enthusiast, calling him “a wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions.”
“He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone’s family,” Davie added. “Len was at the very heart of ‘Strictly’s’ success. He will be hugely missed by the public and his many friends and family.”
Craig Revel Horwood, the longest-serving judge on “Strictly,” described Goodman as a “gorgeous colleague and dear friend,” referencing his ever-present enthusiasm when awarding contestants a score of seven — which eventually turned the number into his catchphrase.
“Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him, and ‘It’s a ten from Len & seveeeeern’ will live with me forever,” Horwood wrote on Twitter.
Former “Strictly” contestant Russell Grant also paid tribute on social media, writing, “The wonderful Len Goodman has left us. He was so kind and lovely to me when I was on @bbcstrictly and we met on other programmes including his own filmed at BBC Glasgow. The word legend is overused but Len and his ‘SEVEN’ became a catchphrase across UK & USA. A true character.”
“RIP Len Goodman, 78 – welder, dancer, judge, and devoted cricket & West Ham fan,” Piers Morgan tweeted early Monday, one of several celebs paying tribute.
Aside from his famous judging roles, Goodman was a presenter for multiple shows including “Partners in Rhyme,” “Holiday of My Lifetime With Len Goodman” and “Dancing Cheek to Cheek: An Intimate History of Dance.”
Goodman dealt with other health issues prior to his bone cancer. In 2009, he was treated for prostate cancer after secretly battling it during some seasons of both “Strictly” and “DWTS.” He revealed in 2020 through UK’s Melanoma Fund that he received surgery for a facial melanoma on his forehead.
He is survived by his wife Sue Barrett and son from a previous relationship, James Goodman.
