Original ‘Dancing With the Stars’ musical director dead at 82

The “Dancing With the Stars” family is mourning one of their own.

Harold Wheeler, the ABC reality competition series’ longtime musical director, has died. He was 82.

Wheeler, who was also a famed Broadway orchestrator and received a Special Tony Award in 2019 for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles following a lengthy illness, Deadline reports.

The musician served as both the musical director and composer for the first 17 seasons of “DWTS” between 2005 and 2013, with his exit confirmed in 2014 before the show’s 18th season.

Tom Bergeron, who hosted “DWTS” for the series’ first 28 seasons, shared a heartfelt tribute for Wheeler on Instagram Thursday.

“In 2005, when you first heard the music of @dancingwiththestars, it was coming from Harold Wheeler and his orchestra,” he began. “Nothing gave me greater pleasure than making him & his orchestra break up during dress rehearsals. Well, that & basking in the brilliance of their talent. #RIP my friend 😔.”

Wheeler’s “DWTS” successor, Ray Chew, reacted to Bergeron’s post in the comments, calling it “one of the greatest honors” of his career to have Wheeler pass the baton to him.

“Harold could not have been more gracious, offering me his blessing and encouragement as I stepped into the role he had shaped with such distinction,” Chew wrote. “That meant more to me than words can express.”

Chew also shouted out Wheeler’s “immeasurable” impact on the entertainment industry.

Derek Hough, a six-time Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy champ who is now a “DWTS” judge, also honored Wheeler on Instagram as someone who “helped build so much of the magic we all know.”

“From the Oscars to countless iconic shows, he was a legend. I’ll always remember sending him ideas in my early seasons and that fun moment when [his Season 15 celebrity partner] Shawn [Johnson] and I tumbled right into his band pit,” he wrote, also sharing a clip of the moment.

“Harold, thank you for the music, the kindness, and the memories,” Hough continued. “Rest in peace, my friend.”

In addition to his lengthy stint on “DWTS,” Wheeler had numerous stage and screen credits, including him serving as musical director and orchestrator for award shows like the Oscars and Emmys and several Broadway-to-TV musicals.

He was also the conductor for the 1996 Summer Olympics opening and closing ceremonies and worked with musicians like Burt Bacharach, Nina Simone and Bruce Springsteen.

Wheeler is survived by his wife, Hattie Winston; his two daughters, Marian and Samantha; and his grandchildren.

The “DWTS” family previously suffered a huge loss when Len Goodman, who served as a judge for the vast majority of the show’s first 31 seasons, died in 2023 after prostate cancer spread to his bones.

He died while surrounded by his family in hospice in Kent, UK. He was 78.

Goodman’s agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his death in a statement at the time, sharing that he was “a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all those who knew him.”