Len Goodman, at the age of 78, has passed away.
He served as a judge on “Dancing With the Stars.”
The English dancer passed away on Saturday in a hospice in Kent, southern England. He was involved in the ballroom competition from 2005 to 2018. He had been battling bone cancer for a long time.
According to Jackie Gill, Goodman’s manager, he was surrounded by a large family on Monday, as reported by CNN.
He was born in London in 1944. As per his website, he started dancing at 19 and was a professional dancer before entering the television industry.
Goodman was the chief judge of BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing,” the British version of Dancing With The Stars, from the show’s start in 2004 until its final airing on Christmas Day 2016. Then Shirley Ballas replaced him when he left.
The director-general of the BBC, Tim Davie, led the tributes, hailing Goodman as a “marvelous, warm-hearted entertainer adored by millions.”
“He made everyone feel like they were part of his family and was popular among people of all ages,” Davie added. Len was a key figure behind Strictly’s success. He will be deeply missed by the public, his many friends and family, and all those who knew him.
“Heartbroken. My dear friend and partner for 19 years, the one and only ballroom LEGEND #LenGoodman passed away. I will cherish the memories of our adventures @bbcstrictly @officialdwts. There will never be anyone like you. You will always be my perfect 10,” wrote Bruno Tonioli, another judge on “Dancing With The Stars,” along with a touching photo of Goodman holding hands.
Apart from his television work, Goodman owned and ran the Kent-based dancing academy, the Goodman Dancing Academy. His autobiography, “Better Late Than Never: From Barrow Boy to Ballroom,” was published in 2009. He also wrote “Lost London” and “Dancing Around Britain.”