Len Goodman HGL/GC Photos
The season 32 premiere of Dancing With the Stars paid tribute to late choose Len Goodman following his dying in April.
“Although he’s actually irreplaceable, … we needed to maintain his spirit alive,” host Julianne Hough mentioned of Goodman throughout the Tuesday, September 26, episode. Her cohost, Alfonso Ribeiro, then motioned to the winner’s trophy, which has been renamed the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in honor of the late ballroom dancer.
“It’s so unbelievable that Len will at all times be going ahead with us,” Hough, 35, mentioned.
Previous to the season 32 premiere, Dancing With the Stars introduced the prize’s new identify. “The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted on Dancing With the Stars just like the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted on the Tremendous Bowl,” govt producer Conrad Inexperienced instructed USA At present on Wednesday, September 20. “We needed to make Len a everlasting a part of this present, to at all times remind folks the significance he’s needed to Dancing With the Stars and the way a lot he meant to all of us.”
Inexperienced additionally famous that the premiere was devoted to Goodman. “Len loves this present and can at all times be there, wanting down on us,” he mentioned.
Len Goodman Via the Years
Remembering a dance legend. After attaining success as a ballroom dancer, Len Goodman discovered fame as a TV choose on Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With the Stars. Goodman — who died in April 2023 at age 78, simply three days shy of his 79th birthday — started his profession on the dance ground at […]
Earlier this month, Strictly Come Dancing — the BBC equal of Dancing With the Stars — honored Goodman, who served as a choose on the competitors sequence from 2004 to 2016, throughout its season 21 premiere. Host Claudia Winkleman, judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood and extra shared fond remembrances of their late costar throughout the September 16 episode.
“In April of this yr, the undisputed king of ballroom Len Goodman sadly handed away,” Winkleman mentioned. “He was a part of Strictly Come Dancing from the very starting, and he was essential to the success of the present. He meant a lot to all of us and we’d wish to share a few of our favourite recollections of Len with you.”
As for his tenure on Dancing With the Stars, Goodman introduced in November 2022 that season 31 can be his final as a choose. “I’ve been with the present because it began in 2005 and it has been an enormous pleasure to be a part of such an exquisite present, however I’ve determined I want to spend extra time with my grandchildren and household again in Britain,” he defined on the time. “I can not thanks sufficient, the Dancing With the Stars household. It’s been such an exquisite expertise for me.”
From Carrie Ann to Julianne Hough! ‘DWTS’ Judges Via the Years
The judges have spoken! Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been staples on the Dancing With the Stars‘ judging desk since day one — however they aren’t the one stars who’ve weighed in on the contestants’ performances. For the reason that present’s 2005 begin the trio of judges have been joined by a range […]
5 months later, Goodman’s agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his dying following a non-public battle with bone most cancers. “It’s with nice unhappiness to announce that Len Goodman has handed away peacefully, aged 78,” Gill mentioned in an announcement to Us Weekly. “A a lot beloved husband, father and grandfather who will likely be sorely missed by household, associates and all who knew him.”
Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will function judges for season 32, the solid of which incorporates Ariana Madix, Charity Lawson, Alyson Hannigan, Jamie Lynn Spears, Jason Mraz and extra.
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
