Len
Goodman has died at the age of 78.
He
was a judge on “Dancing With the Stars.”
The
English dancer, who competed in the ballroom competition from 2005 to 2018,
died on Saturday in a hospice in Kent, southern England. He had been sick with
bone cancer for a long time.
There
were many family members around him, Goodman’s manager, Jackie Gill, told CNN
on Monday.
Along
with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman is a judge on “Dancing
With the Stars.”Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images / Adam Taylor
He
was born in London in 1944. His website says he started dancing when he was 19
years old and was a professional dancer before he went into TV.
Goodman
was the head judge on the British version of Dancing With The Stars, BBC’s
“Strictly Come Dancing,” from the show’s start in 2004 until its last episode
on Christmas Day 2016. Instead, Shirley Ballas filled in for him after he left.
The
tributes were led by BBC director-general Tim Davie, who called Goodman a
“wonderful, warm entertainer who was loved by millions.”
Davie
also said, “He was liked by people of all ages and made everyone feel like he
was part of their family.” Len was the main reason why Strictly was so popular.
The public, his many friends and family, and himself will all miss him very
much.
Bruno
Tonioli, another judge on “Dancing With The Stars,” posted a touching picture
of himself and Goodman holding hands and wrote, “Hart broken my dear friend and
partner for 19 years the one and only ballroom LEGEND #LenGoodman passed away I
will treasure the memories of our adventures @bbcstrictly @officialdwts there
will never be anyone like you you will always be my perfect 10.”
Outside
of TV, Goodman ran the Goodman Dance Academy in Kent, which was a dance school.
His autobiography, “Better Late Than Never: From Barrow Boy to Ballroom,” came
out in 2009. He also wrote “Dancing Around Britain” and “Lost London.”
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