Ballroom Dancer, Dance Judge and Coach. Born Leonard Gordon Goodman in Farnborough, Kent and raised in Bethnal Green, a borough outside of London, where his grandfather worked as a costermonger, selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Early in life, he didn't start on the path you think he would have. Goodman was hired as an apprentice welder for Harland and Wolff in Woolwich, and didn't start dancing till he was almost 20. He fell into it by coincidence, as after he sustained a foot injury, his doctor prescribed dancing, as he said it would help. Goodman appeared as the head judge on the BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2016. It would not be until 2005 when Goodman would participate in his most well known and recognized role, the longest serving judge on the hit show Dancing with the Stars. He appeared with fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli since the show's beginning, and for five seasons with alternating fourth judges Julianne and Derek Hough. After 31 seasons with the show in November of 2022, he announced his retirement back to England to spend more time with his family. Goodman also voiced the Professor in the five-time Emmy award-winning children's program, Auto-B-Good, participated in March and April of 2012 on a PBS documentary on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and in 2015 also did a cooking show titled Len and Ainsley's Big Food Adventure. He passed away peacefully at his home at Royal Tunbridge Wells, with in home hospice care assisting after a bone cancer diagnosis.
Ballroom Dancer, Dance Judge and Coach. Born Leonard Gordon Goodman in Farnborough, Kent and raised in Bethnal Green, a borough outside of London, where his grandfather worked as a costermonger, selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Early in life, he didn't start on the path you think he would have. Goodman was hired as an apprentice welder for Harland and Wolff in Woolwich, and didn't start dancing till he was almost 20. He fell into it by coincidence, as after he sustained a foot injury, his doctor prescribed dancing, as he said it would help. Goodman appeared as the head judge on the BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2016. It would not be until 2005 when Goodman would participate in his most well known and recognized role, the longest serving judge on the hit show Dancing with the Stars. He appeared with fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli since the show's beginning, and for five seasons with alternating fourth judges Julianne and Derek Hough. After 31 seasons with the show in November of 2022, he announced his retirement back to England to spend more time with his family. Goodman also voiced the Professor in the five-time Emmy award-winning children's program, Auto-B-Good, participated in March and April of 2012 on a PBS documentary on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and in 2015 also did a cooking show titled Len and Ainsley's Big Food Adventure. He passed away peacefully at his home at Royal Tunbridge Wells, with in home hospice care assisting after a bone cancer diagnosis.
Bio by: The Iowa Cemeterian
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