Len Goodman was an English professional ballroom dancer and hugely popular TV dance judge, best known as the longtime head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Dancing with the Stars in the US. He became a beloved TV personality later in life, known for his warm manner, sharp critiques, and catchphrases.

Quick Scoop

Len Goodman (full name Leonard Gordon Goodman) was born on 25 April 1944 in Kent, England, and died on 22 April 2023 at the age of 78. He started out working as a welder before taking up ballroom dancing at around 19 after a foot or ankle injury, which led him into the dance world.

Dancing career

  • He turned professional in ballroom dancing, winning major competitions in his twenties, including the British Championships at Blackpool before retiring from competition.
  • He received the Carl Alan Award, often called the “Oscars of the dance world,” recognizing his contribution to ballroom.
  • After retiring from competition, he ran a ballroom dance school in Dartford/Kent, teaching generations of dancers.

TV fame: Strictly & DWTS

  • Goodman became head judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing from its launch in 2004 until 2016, shaping the tone and standards of the show.
  • He was also a central judge on Dancing with the Stars in the US from 2005 until 2022, often flying back and forth across the Atlantic to do both shows.
  • Viewers loved his no‑nonsense scoring, humor, and signature sevens, which turned him into a late-life international star.

Personal life and personality

  • Goodman was known as down‑to‑earth and witty, with colleagues and fans remembering him as warm, fair, and quick with a joke.
  • He was married twice, most recently to dance teacher Sue Barrett (married 2012), and had one son, James, from a previous relationship.
  • Outside the studio he enjoyed golf and was a supporter of West Ham United, keeping a very ordinary, low‑key life despite his fame.

Legacy and how people talk about him now

  • Following his death in April 2023, tributes from broadcasters, dancers, and fans highlighted his role in bringing ballroom dancing back into mainstream prime‑time TV.
  • On forums and social media, fans still share clips of his judging, remember his catchphrases, and talk about how he made dance competitions feel both serious and fun at the same time.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.