Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Entertainment Headlines

Entertainment Headlines

Entertainment Headlines

Len Goodman, ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Judge, Dead At 78

Author Laila Abuelhawa
Renown British dance champion who was a longtime judge on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars.'

Dancing with the Stars judge Len Goodman has died at 78 years old. His manager, Jackie Gill, announced his passing to USA Today in a statement Monday (April 24). “It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully,” Gill said.

Goodman died Saturday night with his wife Sue Barrett and son James, from a previous relationship, by his bedside. The former ballroom dancer was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by those who knew him, the statement added. He had previously been diagnosed with bone cancer.

Goodman was head judge of Dancing With the Stars since its 2005 premiere. The dance competition show announced in November “with a touch of sadness” that the season would be his last on the judge’s panel after 17 years. The show moved to Disney+ in the fall of 2022 after 30 seasons on ABC.

“It has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show,” he said at the time. “But I’ve decided I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain. I could not thank you enough, my Dancing With The Stars family. It’s been such a wonderful experience for me.”

The official DWTS Twitter account wrote: “Len Goodman will always be an icon in the world of ballroom dance, and we 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.”

A former professional ballroom dancer and British champion, Goodman was also head judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing for 12 years from its launch in 2004. Just like DWTS, the dance competition pairs celebrities with professional dance partners. It was a surprise hit and has become one of the network’s most popular shows. For several years he judged the British and American shows simultaneously each autumn.

Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost

We’ve had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. To be frank, it was an absolutely brutal year.

So many giants in music died in 2023. Guitar god Jeff Beck died suddenly in January at age 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis. In February, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach died at age 94. Singer, actor and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte died in April at age 96 from congestive heart failure. In May, the world lost Tina Turner – the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll – at age 83. Iconic pop singer Tony Bennett died in July at age 96.

The worlds of television and film were not immune to significant loss in 2023. Sitcom mastermind Norman Lear died in December at age 101. Three’s Company star Suzanne Somers died in October at age 76 from an aggressive form of breast cancer. Matthew Perry also died in October. The Friends star was only 54. Bob Barker, longtime host of The Price is Right, died in August at age 99. Paul Reubens, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, died in July at age 70 following a private battle with cancer.

The sports world was rocked by the deaths of three major wrestling figures. In June, The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) died at age 81. Then, in August, there were two back-to-back deaths. First, WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk died at age 79. Funk’s hardcore style has been influential to generations of wrestlers that followed. Then, Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) suddenly died at age 36. The young wrestler died after contracting COVID, which exacerbated a heart issue and led to a heart attack.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we’ve lost in 2023.

Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.

Sign Up For The Sunny Side-Up Newsletter

Your connection to the music and entertainment news you want and, the community information you need, plus exclusive games and contests.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Laila Abuelhawa
Category:
Tags:
,

More Celebs

Load More