"Dancing With The Stars" Len Goodman dies aged 78 on Apr. 22
The former ballroom dancer was famous for being the head judge for most of DWTS' 31 seasons
Goodman started a dance school after spending eight years dancing and winning several awards
Len Goodman, most famous for his role as head judge for "Dancing With The Stars" (DWTS) for the majority of the show's 31 seasons, died on Apr. 22 after a legendary background in dance.
The DWTS judge was known as a world-famous ballroom dancer as well as a dancing coach. He first became a professional ballroom dancer in his 20s and was skilled enough to bag the British Exhibition Championships four times.
Len Goodman's Legendary Dancing Career
Goodman was specifically good in the form of a Ballroom called exhibition dancing. He has garnered a plethora of dance-related awards, including the British Rising Star Award, the Carl Allen Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. His legacy in the art of dance is also seen in his ballroom dance school in Dartford, England, as per Talent Recap.
After turning his focus on teaching students, Goodman spent years teaching them every standard from world champion to beginners, arguing that his favorites were people off the street and children.
It was in 2004 when the legendary dancer landed the role of head judge for BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing." A year later, he brought his talents to DWTS, which was the American version of Strictly.
For more than a decade on Strictly, he was the head judge before his career with the show ended in 2017. He became a mainstay in DWTS and was quickly a fan favorite before he announced his plan to retire in November 2022 at the end of the show's 31st season.
A month after he announced that he was departing from the DWTS show, he reflected on his life as well as his career. He seemingly predicted his death when he talked about how his father died at 79 years old while tending the garden, according to US Magazine.
DWTS Head Judge's Late-Life Success
The Disney+ alum, who was married twice and is a father of one, said that "If I go the way of my dad, that'll be next year." In his retirement remarks, he said that being a part of the DWTS show was a huge pleasure.
However, he noted that he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren and family who were living in Britain. Six months after his announcement to retire, Goodman died, which was confirmed by his agent, Jackie Gill.
Gill noted that the legendary dancer passed away with his wife Sue Barrett and son James, who he had from a previous relationship, by his bedside. The agent's statement revealed that Goodman was previously diagnosed with bone cancer.
BBC director-general Tom Davie also described Goodman as a wonderful, warm entertainer." He said that the legendary dancer had millions of adoring fans and was able to appeal to a variety of age ranges, from young to old. Davie added that all of Goodman's friends and family, as well as his fans, will dearly miss him, said USA Today.
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