Dancing with the Stars legend Len Goodman's cause of death has been revealed.

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Len, who served as the head judge of Dancing with the Stars for most of its seasons over the last 18 years, passed away in April at age 78.

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Although the public didn't see Len's death coming and the news came as a shocking event, he had been suffering through a health crisis for over a decade.

Len ultimately died from "metastatic prostate cancer," according to his death certificate obtained by the U.K.'s Daily Express.

Len had reportedly been diagnosed with prostate cancer all the way back in March 2009, but he managed to keep his cancer battle a secret from his colleagues.

Len initially opted to postpone treatment because he wanted to finish filming a season of Dancing with the Stars, the Daily Express reported.

"I could have said 'sorry' and not done the show, but the doctors felt I wasn't riddled with it and it wasn't so far advanced that it was a life-or-death scenario," Len said at the time.

But then in June 2009, Len decided to undergo a surgical procedure to remove a cancerous tumor from his prostate gland.

Len had reportedly said that everything was "gorgeously good" post-surgery, but the cancer eventually spread into his bones.

Len passed away "peacefully" in hospice surrounded by his family -- including his dance teacher wife, Sue -- in Kent, England just three days before his 79th birthday.

Dancing with the Stars' mirrorball trophy has since been renamed in memory of the reality dancing competition's late judge.

"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 last week.

"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 was unveiled during Dancing with the Stars' Season 32 premiere on Tuesday, September 26 on ABC and Disney+, and it was a moving moment for the cast and viewers watching at home.

Conrad also teased there will be 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 for Season 32.

In fact, judge Derek Hough -- a six-time mirrorball trophy champion -- didn't even take over 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, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli also returned to serve on the judging panel.

Len'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 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."

Former DWTS host Tyra Banks 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

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