The Dancing With the Stars family is mourning the loss of one of their own. On Saturday, April 22, long-time judge Len Goodman died at 78. Goodman’s manager, Jackie Gill, confirmed his passing in a statement to the BBC, revealing that Goodman died at a hospice in Kent surrounded by loved ones following a battle with bone cancer.
Along with serving as head judge on the popular BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 until 2016, Goodman was beloved by many as a staple of Dancing With the Stars. Goodman hosted the long-running dancing competition from 2005 until 2022, when he retired after 17 years. He announced his retirement during the semifinals of Season 31, sharing with viewers, “while we are all getting excited and looking forward so much to the finale next week, it will also be with a touch of sadness, as this will be my last season judging on Dancing With the Stars.”
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“I’ve been with the show since it started in 2005,” he continued. “It has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show. I’ve decided I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain… I cannot thank you enough, the Dancing With the Stars family. It’s been such a wonderful experience for me.”
Monday’s news that Goodman passed away was met with an outpouring of condolences, with many of Goodman’s Dancing With the Stars piers paying tribute to the long-time host. Keep scrolling to see what Bruno Tunioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and more are saying.
‘Dancing With the Stars’
The official Dancing With the Stars social media accounts joined the rounds of celebrities and fans to pay tribute to Goodman Monday morning. Alongside a photo of the former host, the account said Goodman “will always be an icon in the world of ballroom dance,” adding that they were “lucky to have him as part of our Dancing with the Stars family for 31 seasons. He was warm and caring, and always delivered genuine guidance. We are devastated by the news of his passing and our hearts are with his family during this very difficult time.”
Mark Cuban
On Twitter, Shark Tank star Mark Cuban wrote, “RIP Len Goodman, you are a legend who made people around the world smile and dance.” Cuban competed on Season 5 of the hit dancing competition back in 2007 and was eliminated during week five along with partner Kym Johnson.
Emmett Smith
Season 3 mirrorball trophy winner Emmett Smith “woke up to the sad news of Len Goodman passing this morning,” the former NFL athlete tweeting, “With great love and respect to a good and judge. Condolences to his family! Dance in heaven my friend.”
Kym Johnson-Herjavec
Kym Johnson-Herjavec, the Aussie ballroom dancer who appeared on DWTS from 2006 to 2015, mourned Goodman on Instagram. Sharing a photo of herself and the late DWTS judge, Johnson-Herjavec wrote, “heartbroken. Heavens gates are covered in 10 paddles and mirror balls today. Nothing made you feel better than getting a 10 from Len. He was a class act with a cheeky grin and quick wit. You will be so missed . Rest In Peace sweet Len.”
Lindsay Arnold
Professional dancer Lindsay Arnold reacted to the “heartbreaking” news of Goodman’s death on her Instagram Story, writing, “The sweetest man and truly the heart of the show! Rest in peace Len.” She added a red heart emoji before concluding that she would “never forget” the memories she shared with Goodman.
Ginger Zee
ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee was among the many celebrity contestants Goodman judges throughout his tenure on DWTS. Zee, who competed on Season 22 of the competition partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy, the pair placing third, paid tribute to Goodman on Monday’s broadcast of Good Morning America, sharing, “reality that he brought to competition television, will be missed … And that sparkle he had, even when delivering tough news, is going to be missed.”
Tom Bergeron
Tom Bergeron also joined the DWTS family to pay tribute to Goodman. On Instagram Monday morning, Bergeron, who hosted the long-running series for 28 seasons, wrote, “A Good Man, indeed.” Bergeron shared a collage of images from his and Goodman’s time together on DWTS as well as other images highlighting their close friendship.
Shirley Ballas
Shirley Ballas, who replaced Len on Strictly Come Dancing after his departure from the show in 2016 ad whose son Mark Ballas served as a professional dancer on DWTS for 20 season, wrote on Twitter, “My past teacher, a dance legend, and a true gentleman. He was a shining star in the ballroom that everyone loved. He was funny, kind and quick witted. He always found the best way to give couples feedback. My heart is full of memories with him. Thank you for all your years in the ballroom, for your dedication to the art of ballroom dancing, for all your advice over the years.”
Keo Motsepe
Keo Motsepe, who did not return for DWTS Season 30, sent his condolences on Instagram. On the social media platform, Motsepe shared a photo of Goodman dancing, captioning the image, “Rest well Sir Len. You will be missed.” In the hashtags, he called Goodman a “legend,” adding, “thank you.”
Carrie Ann Inaba
Fellow original host Carrie Ann Inaba also quickly reacted to news of Goodman’s passing, remembering him in a social media post as “A Dancer. A teacher. A refined gentleman. A wonderful storyteller. A special soul. A mentor. A family man. And… A treasured friend.”
“Saying goodbye at the end of last season broke my heart. But today’s news has shattered it all over again. I can’t believe that you’re gone,” she continued. “You were one of a kind my dear friend. And I will cherish our memories and hold them close, while I join so many others in mourning your loss. Thank you for all that you shared with us. Your humor, your wisdom, your wit and your truth. Until we meet again… Rest In Peace Len.”
Bruno Tuniolo
Prior to Goodman’s retirement, he and Bruno Tuniolo serves as co-hosts on Dancing With the Stars since Season 1. The choreographer reacted to Goodman’s passing on both Twitter and Instagram, where he shared a throwback photo of the pair as he wrote that he was “heartbroken.” Tunioli continued, “my dear friend and partner for 19 years the one and only ballroom legend [Len Goodman] passed away I will treasure the memory of our incredible adventures and hundreds of shows we did together [Strictly Come Dancing] [Dancing With the Stars] hey will never be anyone like you we will miss you.”
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Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough on 'Dancing With the Stars.' Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless
