Longtime 'Dancing with the Stars' Judge Dies at 78

Len Goodman, the fan favorite Dancing with the Stars head judge, known for his witty commentary as well as his ballroom expertise, has died. He was 78.

Goodman died Saturday at a hospice in England, surrounded by his family, according to the BBC.

“It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78,” Goodman’s agent, Jackie Gill, said in a statement. “A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”

The long-serving judge on Dancing with the Stars and the original British version of the series, Strictly Come Dancing, had announced his retirement in 2022. He had not planned to return for Season 32 of DWTS.

Goodman had been a part of the American version of Dancing with the Stars since the series premiered on ABC, judging more than 3,000 dances in the ballroom.

He missed Season 29 when COVID protocols prevented him from making his weekly trans-Atlantic flight to judge both the U.S. and British versions of the dance reality series. His only other absence was season 21 when his U.K. duties prevented him from participating.

Related: Len Goodman's Funniest Quotes from Dancing with the Stars

Fans loved his pithy observations and British sensibilities. “You floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet,” he remarked after one foxtrot.

British broadcaster Esther Rantzen told the AP that Goodman had been “astonished and delighted” by his late-life fame.

“One of the reasons he succeeded so well in the States is that he was quintessentially British,” she said. “He was firm but fair, funny but a gentleman and I hope the nation will adopt his favorite expostulation of ‘pickle me walnuts.’”

Related: Len Goodman Is Almost Unrecognizable in This Throwback Photo from 1970

How many years has Len Goodman been on Dancing with the Stars?

Len Goodman has been on Dancing with the Stars since the show premiered in 2005. That's 17 years (and 29 seasons) on the dance reality series. As previously mentioned, he missed seasons 21 and 29.

Who will replace Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars?

We don't know yet. Since the next season of Dancing with the Stars won’t take place until fall, the producers have time to decide whether or not to replace Len on the panel or stick with the three-person judging panel they have now: Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.