Dancing with the Stars has announced its coveted mirrorball trophy has been renamed in memory of the reality dancing competition’s late judge Len Goodman, who passed away in April.
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“The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted on Dancing with the Stars like the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted at the Super Bowl,” Dancing with the Stars executive producer Conrad Green told USA Today ahead of the show’s Season 32 premiere.
“We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people the importance he’s had to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us.”
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The redesigned trophy will be unveiled during Dancing with the Stars’ Season 32 premiere on Tuesday, September 26 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
Conrad also teased that the upcoming live two-hour episode of Dancing with the Stars will be dedicated to Len, who began serving as the show’s head judge for its inaugural season back in 2005.
“Len loves this show and will always be there, looking down on us,” Conrad shared, adding how the dedication will be “a really moving moment” for Dancing with the Stars’ family and viewers.
Conrad also promised a second tribute to Len later this season.
Dancing with the Stars will air “a proper look back” at Len’s career with video tributes and some footage of his performances.
No fourth judge was hired to replace Len on Dancing with the Stars this fall.
In fact, judge Derek Hough — a six-time mirrorball trophy champion — won’t even be serving as the new head judge.
“We didn’t think that title was necessary,” Conrad explained. “We started the show with three judges, and it’s a good number. We’ll occasionally bring in extra guest judges for a fresh opinion.”
Alongside Derek, returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli will also be serving on the panel.
Dancing with the Stars will be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and co-hosted by Julianne Hough following Tyra Banks’ departure.
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Conrad said the trophy tribute to Len in front of the new Dancing with the Stars cast “will be fitting for a season that is a bit of a restart.”
The longtime Dancing with the Stars judge’s agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed Len’s death on April 24.
“It is with great sadness to announce that Len Goodman has passed away peacefully, aged 78,” Gill told BBC News in a statement.
“A much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”
Len passed away peacefully in hospice in Kent, England, surrounded by his family.
According to People, Len had battled bone cancer before he died.
Len died shortly after announcing his Dancing with the Stars retirement.
Len announced he was leaving Dancing with the Stars in November 2022 after judging nearly 30 seasons of the reality dancing competition.
One week before Dancing with the Stars’ Season 31 finale, Len made a big announcement on the show.
“This will be my last season judging on Dancing with the Stars,” Len declared. “I’ve been with the show since it started in 2005, and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show.”
Len continued, “But I’ve decided I’d like to spend more time with my grandchildren and my family back in Britain.”
The audience clapped and cheered loudly for Len, who added, “I cannot thank you enough for the Dancing with the Stars family. It has been such a wonderful experience for me.”
Tyra went on to note how many of the Dancing with the Stars pros, such as Mark Ballas and Val Chmerkovskiy, had been judged by Len as children.
“You’ve inspired generations of dancers around the entire globe through your passion and through your expertise and through your laser-focused eye,” Tyra said.
“And they are going to carry on that commitment to excellence forever. Thank you so much — a living legend.”
Len served as a judge on all of Dancing with the Stars’ seasons except for Season 21 in 2015 and Season 29 in 2020.
For years, Len traveled back and forth between the United Kingdom and the United States weekly along with Bruno to judge both Dancing with the Stars in Los Angeles, CA and Strictly Come Dancing (the British version of the reality series) in London, England.
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In 2020, he participated in the Dancing with the Stars season virtually, but not as a judge, because he could not freely travel between countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Derek temporarily replaced Len as “the head judge” of the show’s 29th season during the height of COVID-19.
About The Author:
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.