The “Dancing With the Stars” household is mourning one in every of their very own.
Harold Wheeler, the ABC actuality competitors collection’ longtime musical director, has died. He was 82.
Wheeler, who was additionally a famed Broadway orchestrator and obtained a Particular Tony Award in 2019 for Lifetime Achievement within the Theatre, died Wednesday at his house in Los Angeles following a prolonged sickness, Deadline stories.
The musician served as each the musical director and composer for the primary 17 seasons of “DWTS” between 2005 and 2013, together with his exit confirmed in 2014 earlier than the present’s 18th season.
Tom Bergeron, who hosted “DWTS” for the collection’ first 28 seasons, shared a heartfelt tribute for Wheeler on Instagram Thursday.
“In 2005, if you first heard the music of @dancingwiththestars, it was coming from Harold Wheeler and his orchestra,” he started. “Nothing gave me better pleasure than making him & his orchestra break up throughout gown rehearsals. Effectively, that & basking within the brilliance of their expertise. #RIP my buddy 😔.”
Wheeler’s “DWTS” successor, Ray Chew, reacted to Bergeron’s submit within the feedback, calling it “one of many best honors” of his profession to have Wheeler move the baton to him.
“Harold couldn’t have been extra gracious, providing me his blessing and encouragement as I stepped into the position he had formed with such distinction,” Chew wrote. “That meant extra to me than phrases can categorical.”
Chew additionally shouted out Wheeler’s “immeasurable” affect on the leisure business.
Derek Hough, a six-time Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy champ who’s now a “DWTS” decide, additionally honored Wheeler on Instagram as somebody who “helped construct a lot of the magic everyone knows.”
“From the Oscars to numerous iconic exhibits, he was a legend. I’ll all the time bear in mind sending him concepts in my early seasons and that enjoyable second when [his Season 15 celebrity partner] Shawn [Johnson] and I tumbled proper into his band pit,” he wrote, additionally sharing a clip of the second.
“Harold, thanks for the music, the kindness, and the recollections,” Hough continued. “Relaxation in peace, my buddy.”
Along with his prolonged stint on “DWTS,” Wheeler had quite a few stage and display screen credit, together with him serving as musical director and orchestrator for award exhibits just like the Oscars and Emmys and a number of other Broadway-to-TV musicals.
He was additionally the conductor for the 1996 Summer time Olympics opening and shutting ceremonies and labored with musicians like Burt Bacharach, Nina Simone and Bruce Springsteen.
Wheeler is survived by his spouse, Hattie Winston; his two daughters, Marian and Samantha; and his grandchildren.
The “DWTS” household beforehand suffered an enormous loss when Len Goodman, who served as a decide for the overwhelming majority of the present’s first 31 seasons, died in 2023 after prostate most cancers unfold to his bones.
He died whereas surrounded by his household in hospice in Kent, UK. He was 78.
Goodman’s agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed his dying in an announcement on the time, sharing that he was “a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who shall be sorely missed by household, associates and all those that knew him.”
