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Derek Houghis opening up about the loss of hisDancing with the Starscostar,Len Goodman, followinghis death.
On the latest episode of theWhine Down with Jana Kramerpodcast, the 37-year-old television personality revealed that he knew Goodman was “unwell” but the news ofhis bone cancer diagnosiswas a surprise.
“We didn’t certainly didn’t know the extent [of his illness] — we had no idea the extent — because this was a huge shock to all of us,” he told hostJana Kramer. “And it’s incredibly sad.”
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“I feel incredibly emotional and sad about it,” he said of Goodman’s death. “And then at the same time, I feel so grateful that the last season that we shared together… I really savored the moments I spent with him and we were playful with each other and we had these one on one conversations.”
Before his retirement fromDancing with the Starsin 2022, Goodman gave Hough a parting gift.
“I walked in my dressing room when there’s this giant picture of Len,” he recalled of their final day on set together. “It was framed, beautiful gold frame and it’s a picture of him and it had this handwritten message from him.”
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Hough shared he had “the pleasure of knowing” Goodman since he was 12 years old. He recalled that the former professional ballroom dancer had “the gift of the gab” and brought “great energy.”
He also sharedhis favorite memorieswith Goodman onDancing with the Stars.
“I mean, thinking back, there’s this video that we did withNastia Liukinwhen I danced, and in there, he did this little package and he was saying … ‘Sometimes your body just starts to give up on you but I just still feel like that young old chap, you know, that dancer,'” he recalled. “And we did this sort of tribute to Len, and then he kind of took over and he danced.”
“I just keep thinking back and some of these memories and these moments, and just thinking again, just how fortunate we were to have had him for so long on the show, at least, but he certainly went far too soon in life,” he added.
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Goodman’s manager Jackie Gill confirmed his death in a statement released on April 24.
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He continued, “Still hard to fully process but filled with gratitude knowing I had the privilege of working beside this absolute legend. We will miss you dearly Len. We love you ❤️ Rest In Peace my friend”
source: people.com
