Dancing with the Stars to Honor Late Judge Len Goodman with Mirrorball Trophy Rename
Dancing with the Stars will permanently honor the late judge Len Goodman by renaming its iconic Mirrorball Trophy in his memory. The change, announced by executive producer Conrad Green, will ensure Goodman’s legacy remains linked to the show for as long as it airs.
“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,” Green told USA Today, emphasizing the lasting tribute. The producer said the decision reflects the esteem in which Goodman was held by colleagues, contestants and fans, and was intended to make him “a permanent part of this show,” reminding viewers and the dance community of the important role he played.
When Dancing with the Stars returns — currently scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, September 26 — the program will pause during the season opener to unveil a redesigned Mirrorball bearing Goodman’s name. Green promised “a really moving moment” for viewers and the cast during the dedication, noting that “Len loved this show and will always be there, looking down on us.” The first presentation of the newly named trophy will mark a symbolic moment for the series as it moves forward.
Throughout his career, Len Goodman was known for his forthright critiques, dry wit and deep knowledge of ballroom dance. “Len always had a twinkle in his eye and a brilliant turn of phrase,” Green added. “He was very fair and knew what he was talking about. The respect he brought made the show stand on its own two feet. The dancers always wanted to know what Len thought of their performance.” Those qualities made him an authoritative and beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic.
Another Tribute Will Air Later in the Season
In addition to the trophy dedication, the show plans a fuller tribute later in the season. Green said this later segment will take “a proper look back” at Goodman’s career, incorporating video highlights, archival footage and performances that honor his contribution to televised dance. That longer retrospective is intended to give fans and colleagues a chance to reflect on his influence and celebrate memorable moments from his many years on stage and on screen.
The trophy dedication with the new cast, Green noted, will be meaningful for a season that represents a kind of fresh start for the long-running format. It will connect the program’s history with its present and future, underscoring the continuity between past judges and new talent while formally preserving Goodman’s name on the series’ top prize.
Production of the show has faced potential scheduling challenges. Dancing with the Stars has considered a possible delay to its premiere amid industry labor actions, and at least one cast member, actor and comedian Matt Walsh, has paused his participation while the Writers Guild of America strike remains unresolved. Producers say they are monitoring the situation and will adapt plans as needed to protect everyone involved in rehearsals and tapings.
Surrounded by Family and Friends
Len Goodman died in April at age 78 after a battle with bone cancer. He passed away at a hospice in Kent, England, surrounded by family. His agent, Jackie Gill, described him as “a much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him.”
Goodman’s judging career included the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, where he served from the show’s launch in 2004 through 2016, and the U.S. version, Dancing with the Stars, from its 2005 debut through 2022. He retired after the show’s 31st season in the fall of 2022, leaving a legacy of fairness, authoritative commentary and warmth that endeared him to millions of viewers and countless dance professionals.
Renaming the Mirrorball Trophy in Len Goodman’s honor ensures that future champions will lift a prize bearing his name — a lasting reminder of his influence on televised ballroom dance, the standards he set for judging and the warmth he brought to every stage. The dedication aims to celebrate not only his work as a critic and judge but also his role as an ambassador for ballroom dance worldwide.
As the show prepares to reveal the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, producers, dancers and fans alike are poised to pay tribute to a figure whose presence shaped a generation of dance television. The commemoration is presented as both a moment of remembrance and a tribute to the enduring impact Goodman had on an entertainment format that continues to evolve.