Julia Stiles honors Heath Ledger on Dancing with the Stars

During the Tuesday, October 20 episode of Dancing with the Stars, 45-year-old actress Julia Stiles and her partner Ezra Sosa performed a contemporary routine honoring her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger. The pair danced to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli, replicating the iconic serenade scene from the 1999 teen romantic comedy. At the conclusion of the performance, Stiles was joined on the ballroom floor by former co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, and Gabrielle Union.

Permission Sought from Michelle Williams Before the Routine

Before stepping onto the ballroom floor, Stiles sought approval from Ledger’s former partner, Michelle Williams. “I did ask Michelle if this was OK and she said yes,” Stiles told Extra TV after the episode. Ledger and Williams met in 2004 on the set of Brokeback Mountain, welcoming daughter Matilda in 2005 before separating in 2007. Ledger died of an accidental overdose in January 2008 at the age of 28. Regarding the inclusion of the rest of the cast, Stiles explained that a single representative wouldn’t suffice. “I was like, ‘It has to be the whole cast, it can’t just be one person, it’s got to be everybody,'” she told Extra TV.

Cast Reunion Details and David Krumholtz Absence Explained

While Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt, and Andrew Keegan appeared live in the Los Angeles ballroom, cast member David Krumholtz was absent due to film production schedules. Krumholtz posted an Instagram video explaining that he was in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York working on a movie. He noted that he would have loved to participate in the tribute to his late friend, but shaving the remainder of his hair for his current role meant a public appearance would have generated unnecessary internet chatter. Stiles and Sosa earned straight nines across the board from the judges, marking their highest score of the season.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 10 Things I Hate About You Tribute

Why did Julia Stiles choose the song Can’t Take My Eyes Off You?

The contemporary routine used the Frankie Valli track as a direct homage to the 1999 film, where Ledger’s character Patrick Verona serenaded Stiles’ character Kat Stratford during her soccer practice at the high school stadium.

Which original cast members joined Julia Stiles on the ballroom floor?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, and Gabrielle Union walked onto the dance floor at the end of the routine, linking arms with Stiles while an overhead photo of her and Ledger was displayed.

How did the judges score the performance?

Judges awarded Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa nines across the board, giving the couple their highest score of the season.

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