Len Goodman

Len Goodman Headshot

Dancer • Personality

Birth Name: Leonard Gordon Goodman

Birth Date: April 25, 1944

Death Date: April 22, 2023

Birth Place: Bethnal Green, London, England, UK

Gifted with an unparalleled talent for dancing and a knack for winning competitions, Len Goodman could not have been more perfect as the head judge of the popular reality competition series, "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ). He was born at the height of WWII in April 1944 in London, England. Growing up, Goodman was more interested in football than dancing. At the encouragement of a friend, the 14-year-old lad attended the Court School of Dancing in Welling, England. Goodman only mildly enjoyed the experience; at 15, he dropped out of school to become a welder. He worked on the docks as an engineering apprentice until he was about 20 years old.

It was at that time that he was injured playing sports and was advised by his doctor to take up ballroom dancing as a form of rehabilitation. Shortly after returning to dance school, Goodman began competing and winning numerous competitions. Specializing in Latin and a form of Ballroom called "Exhibition" dancing, Goodman won the British Exhibition four times. In his late 20s, he retired from professional dancing after winning the British Championships at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in England. Goodman then turned his attention to teaching aspiring dancers at his own dance school in Kent, England.

In the 1970s and '80s, his dance school attracted a lot of local youth, particularly during its weekly Saturday night discos. In the 1990s, Goodman traveled all over the world, judging dance competitions and giving lectures. In 2004, Goodman's career experienced resurgence after he starred on the hit reality competition series "Strictly Come Dancing" (BBC, 2004- ) as its head judge. Due to the show's overwhelming success, an American version of the show premiered the following year on ABC called "Dancing with the Stars." Goodman became a household name across the pond as the show's head judge, alongside American dancer and choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, an Italian choreographer and TV personality.

Like its British counterpart, which Goodman simultaneously judged, "Dancing with the Stars" paired celebrities with professional dancers to win audience votes and be declared dancing champions. On the show, Goodman was often the voice of reason; the wise sage giving no-nonsense critiques of the performances of the dancing hopefuls. More than anyone else on the panel, celebrities and their professional partners yearned for a glowing review from Goodman. In March 2009, Goodman was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He kept the news a secret until July 2009, when he made a public announcement that he had undergone surgery for the disease. Len Goodman died on April 22, 2023 at the age of 78.

Credits

Len Goodman Tribute

Self
Show
2023

The Queen: 70 Glorious Years

Self
Show
2022

Can I Improve My Memory?

Self
Show
2021

When Saturday Night TV Goes Horribly Wrong

Self
Show
2021

The Steph Show

Guest
Show
2020

The Queen's Coronation in Colour

Self
Show
2018

Most Shocking Celebrity Moments 2017

Guest
Show
2017

Len Goodman's Partners in Rhyme

Host
Show
2017

Britain's Greatest Inventions

Guest
Show
2017

Strictly Len Goodman

Host
Show
2016

Sir Terry Wogan Remembered: Fifty Years at the BBC

Guest
Show
2016

When TV Goes Horribly Wrong

Self
Show
2016

Len and Ainsley's Big Food Adventure

Host
Show
2015

Dancing Through the Blitz: Blackpool's Big Band Story

Host
Show
2015

Billy Fury: The Sound of Fury

Guest
Show
2015

Christmas of My Lifetime with Len Goodman

Host
Show
2014

Len Goodman's Big Band Bonanza

Host
Show
2014

Dancing Cheek to Cheek: An Intimate History of Dance

Host
Show
2014

Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman

Host
Show
2014

Good Morning Britain

Guest
Show
2014

Duck Quacks Don't Echo

Contestant
Show
2014

Len Goodman's Dance Band Days

Host
Show
2013

Len Goodman's Perfect Christmas

Host
Show
2013

Tipping Point: Lucky Stars

Contestant
Show
2013

Tipping Point: Lucky Stars

Self
Show
2013

Becoming the Beatles

Self
Show
2012

Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars

Judge
Show
2012

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

The Titanic With Len Goodman

Host
Show
2012

Titanic with Len Goodman

Host
Show
2012

The 1952 Show

Host
Show
2012

The Chase: Celebrity Special

Contestant
Show
2011

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Lorraine

Guest
Show
2010

Love/Loss

Actor
Len
Movie
2010

The Unseen Beatles

Actor
Show
2008

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

Dancing With the StarsStream

Correspondent
Reality
2005

Dancing With the StarsStream

Judge
Reality
2005

Strictly Come Dancing

Judge
Show
2004

Who Do You Think You Are?

Guest Star
Show
2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Countdown

Guest
Show
2002

Lifeline

Host
Show
2000

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Extra

Guest
News
1994

Room 101

Guest
Show
1994

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

News aboutLen Goodman

Cheryl Burke on red carpet

Cheryl Burke Speaks Out About Not Getting Invited to ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Len Goodman Tribute

Charity Lawson
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‘Dancing with the Stars’: Who Wowed & Who Got Eliminated on Monster Night

Len Goodman Tribute
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Shocking Elimination & Special Tribute to Len Goodman (RECAP)

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Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars

‘DWTS’ Judge Len Goodman’s Cause of Death Revealed

Alfonso Ribeiro Talks ‘DWTS’ as Show Names Mirrorball After Len Goodman

Alfonso Ribeiro and Len Goodman from 'Dancing with the Stars'
Preview

Alfonso Ribeiro Teases ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Tribute to Late Len Goodman

Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars

‘DWTS’ Alums Share Favorite Memories of Len Goodman on Chris Harrison Podcast

DANCING WITH THE STARS - “Disney+ Night” – The 13 remaining couples immerse themselves in the magic of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and more for an unforgettable “Disney+ Night” full of dazzling performances. Week four of the mirrorball competition will stream live MONDAY, OCT. 10 (8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT), on Disney+. (ABC/Christopher Willard)

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Len Goodman

Len Goodman Dies: Former ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Judge Was 78

Dancing With the Stars Season 31 finale
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 31 Finale: Did the Right Couple Win the Mirror Ball? (RECAP)

Len Goodman

‘Dancing With The Stars’: Len Goodman Announces Season 31 Will Be His Last

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‘Dancing With the Stars’: [Spoiler] Sent Home in ’90s Night Double Elimination (RECAP)

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‘DWTS’: Charli D’Amelio Snags Her First Perfect Score in Michael Bublé Night (RECAP)

Charli D'Amelio and Mark Ballas performing on 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 31
Spoiler Alert

‘DWTS’: ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ & More Disney+ Night Tributes (RECAP)

Selma Blair and Sasha Farber dancing during Bond Night on Dancing With the Stars
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‘DWTS’: 6 Best Performances From Sultry Bond Night (RECAP)

Elvis Night on DWTS Season 31
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 31: Elvis Night Tiebreaker Sends [Spoiler] Home (RECAP)

Dancing With the Stars Season 31 premiere
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‘DWTS’ Season 31 Premiere: [Spoiler] Gets Eliminated in First Live Show on Disney+

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30 Finale, Episode 11

How to Watch ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 31 on Disney+

Dancing With the Stars Mirrorball trophy

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Sets Season 31 Premiere Date on Disney+

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30 Finale, Episode 11
Spoiler Alert

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Finale: Did the Right Couple Take Home the Mirror Ball? (RECAP)

CARRIE ANN INABA, LEN GOODMAN, DEREK HOUGH, BRUNO TONIOLI

‘DWTS’ Pros Weigh In on the Judges’ Save — Does the Vote Need to Get the Boot?

Spoiler Alert

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Semi-Finals: Which Couples Are Heading to the Finale? (RECAP)

Melora Hardin & Artem Chigvintsev - Dancing With the Stars - Season 30 Episode 9, Janet Jackson Night
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‘Dancing With the Stars’: Janet Jackson Night Ends in Double Elimination Ahead of Semifinals (RECAP)

'Dancing With the Stars,
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‘Dancing With the Stars’: Queen Night Rocks — Plus, a Frontrunner Lands in Bottom 2 (RECAP)

JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson perform a Foxtrot with a Grease theme on Dancing With The Stars
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JoJo & Jenna’s ‘DWTS’ Routines: Making History With Technique & Grace

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30 Episode 7, Horror Night, JoJo Siwa, Jenna Johnson
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‘Dancing With the Stars’: A Terrifying Horror Night Narrows Down the Competition (RECAP)

Dancing with the Stars - Melanie C and Gleb Savchenko

Did Len Make the Wrong Choice on ‘DWTS’? Melanie C. & Gleb Savchenko React

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30, Episode 6, 'Grease' Night, Olivia Jade, Val Chmerkovskiy
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‘Dancing With the Stars’: A Tribute to ‘Grease’ Brings a Shocking Elimination (RECAP)

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30 Episode 5, Disney Week Night 2, Melanie C, Gleb Savchenko
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‘Dancing With the Stars’: A Villainous Double Elimination During Disney Night 2 (RECAP)

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30, Episode 4, Disney Week, Night 1, 'Heroes Night,' Witney Carson and The Miz
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Episode 4: Disney Week Night 1 Brings the Magic (RECAP)

'Dancing With the Stars,' Season 30, Episode 3, 'Britney Night,' Tyra Banks, Christine Chiu, Pasha Pashkov
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Episode 3: A Very Timely Britney Night (RECAP)

Drew Tarver as Cary Dubek in The Other Two

Best Lines of the Week (September 24-30): ‘I Know This Isn’t Your Fault, But I Do Not Like You’

'Dancing with the Stars' Season 30, ABC, Matt James & Lindsay Arnold
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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Episode 2: The First Elimination & a COVID Case Shake Things Up (RECAP)

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‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2021 Premiere: Milestone 30th Season Makes History (RECAP)

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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 30 Adds Suni Lee & Jojo Siwa, Will Feature First Same-Sex Couple

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ABC Renews ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for Landmark 30th Season

Dancing With The Stars - Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli

Will ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Also Change Judges? Carrie Ann Inaba Sounds Off