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.”