Beloved television personalities become like familiar friends, getting viewers through their daily lives. When one such as Dancing With the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing judge Ken Goodman dies, the world mourns. Len left this life on April 22, 2023, while surrounded by family.
Len had been diagnosed with bone cancer. He was in hospice care in the county of Kent in England. Len’s longtime agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his passing in a statement.
“It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78,” Jackie stated. “A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”
Len was known for his straightforward critiques of dancers. He appeared as head judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 through 2016. From 2005 to 2022, he appeared on the American spinoff Dancing With the Stars.
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Len was a last-minute addition to Dancing With the Stars but became a fan favorite. “I got the call to be a judge three days before the first show. Little Len! Who am I? I’m just a dance teacher from Dartford,” Len recalled during his final appearance on the show. “Suddenly, I’m thrust into Hollywood … I got the reputation as being the tough judge, because what I see is what I say.”
To learn more about this remarkable man, watch this video.
