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Len Goodman
Born in April 1944, Len Goodman grew up in East London and started a career as a dancer at 19. He found success in the ballroom, winning the British Championships in the 1970s. He retired in his late 20s and subsequently opened a dance school.
Goodman became a TV staple in 2004, appearing on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The following year, America launched a version of the British competition series titled Dancing With the Stars and Goodman was on the judge’s panel with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Goodman — known for being a tough judge, with contestants craving a “10 from Len” — continued to pull double duty on both series for years. He announced his retirement in November 2022 after season 31 of DWTS.
The TV personality died in hospice care in April 2023 at age 78 after a private battle with bone cancer, per BBC.
Goodman is survived by his wife, Sue Barrett, whom he married in 2012. He also had a son named James William Goodman from a previous relationship.
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