Dancing With the Stars honored Harold Wheeler—who served as a musical director on the show's first 17 seasons—in a touching tribute following his death at age 82.
ByJun 28, 2026 12:06 AM
| Updated 19 minutes ago
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Dancing With the Stars is mourning a tragic loss.
In the wake of the news that Harold Wheeler—the show's longtime musical director—died on June 24 at the age of 82, DWTS paid tribute to the Tony-winning orchestrator in a touching statement.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Harold Wheeler, whose extraordinary talent and musicianship helped shape the early identity of Dancing With the Stars," the ABC reality competition series shared on its Instagram Stories June 25. "As the show’s musical director during its first nine years, Harold brought unparalleled artistry, passion and excellence to every live performance, helping create unforgettable moments for millions of viewers.”
"His contributions were an integral part of the foundation of which the series was built, and his legacy will forever remain a cherished part of the Dancing With the Stars family," the message added. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and those who had the privilege of working with him.”
Following a successful and long career on Broadway, Wheeler joined Dancing With the Stars in its first season in 2005, serving as the musical director for 17 seasons until 2013.
After the show lost one of its most beloved members, several figures in the DWTS world—past and present—honored Wheeler on social media.
"In 2005, when you first heard the music of @dancingwiththestars, it was coming from Harold Wheeler and his orchestra," original host Tom Bergeron wrote in a June 25 Instagram post. "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."
Meanwhile, former longtime pro and current judge Derek Hough praised Wheeler for helping "build so much of the magic we all know."
"From the Oscars to countless iconic shows, he was a legend," he continued in his June 25 Instagram post, which featured Wheeler and his orchestra playing music while he danced on stage. "l'll always remember sending him ideas in my early seasons and that fun moment when Shawn and I tumbled right into his band pit. Harold, thank you for the music, the kindness, and the memories. Rest in peace, my friend."
Carol Kaelson/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
And while Wheeler will surely be missed by the DWTS family, he previously shared that his joining the show almost didn't happen.
"It was during that six-week cancellation that I got a call to work on [the] show," Wheeler told the New York Post in a 2010 interview, referring to the musical Lennon he was working on in Boston. "Had Boston not been cancelled, I would have said, 'Sorry, not available’ and we wouldn’t be having this discussion. They shot the pilot for Dancing during the exact same six weeks we would have been in Boston. So it was meant to be."
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