Former ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Len Goodman Dies at 78 — What Happened?
Published April 24 2023, 6:54 a.m. ET
When Len Goodman stepped down from Dancing With the Stars in November 2022 after years of being one of the iconic judges on the show's panel, fans assumed he would eventually return. But on April 24, 2023, his agent confirmed that the former professional ballroom dancer and judge passed away.
Len was 78 at the time of his death, which was reported to have occurred on April 22, just two days before the news was released to the public. What was Len Goodman's cause of death?
What was Len Goodman's cause of death?
According to ABC News, Len was diagnosed with bone cancer prior to his death.
His agent said in a statement that the former dancing judge "passed away peacefully." It was also noted that Len was surrounded by his loved ones at the time of his death.
Many of Len's fans and celebrity friends publicly expressed their grief at his passing.
Bruno Tonioli, who worked with Len for almost 20 years on both Dancing With the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing, shared on Twitter that he was "heartbroken" at the loss of his friend.
"I will treasure the memories of our adventures," he wrote, tagging both of the shows they worked on together. "There will never be anyone like you. You will always be my perfect 10."
"Len Goodman was a wonderful, warm entertainer who was adored by millions," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement on Twitter. "He appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone's family. Len was at the very heart of Strictly's success. He will be hugely missed by the public and his many friends and family."
Why did Len Goodman leave 'Dancing With the Stars'?
In November 2022, Len announced during an episode of Dancing With the Stars that he was retiring after years on the show as one of the honest, but fair, judges.
“This will be my last season judging Dancing With the Stars,” he said on the air at the time. “I’ve been on the show since it started in 2005, and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show, but I’ve decided I want to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain.”
The judge noted that it has been "such a wonderful experience" for him.