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Julia Stiles to honor Heath Ledger on Dancing with the Stars
Julia Stiles will honor Heath Ledger on Dancing with the Stars during the show's Dedication Night on Tuesday, Oct.
20.
Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, will perform a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's “Can't Take My Eyes Off You.”
The dedication is to Ledger, her co-star in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You.
Ledger died in 2008 at age 28 from an accidental prescription drug overdose.
Stiles says rehearsing with clips and pictures from the film has brought up strong emotions, despite the years since they worked together.
Dedication Night gives all 10 remaining couples a chance to honor people or places that have shaped their lives.
Stiles says she feels the performance is important because Ledger's work in the film continues to be remembered.
Julia Stiles honored her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger during a Dancing with the Stars performance on Dedication Night.
Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” which Ledger’s character sings in the 1999 film.
Several of the film’s cast members joined Stiles at the end of the routine, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan.
The performance included Stiles reciting her monologue from the film and placing a flower beneath Ledger’s photo.
Ledger died in 2008 at age 28 from an accidental overdose.
- Who
- Julia Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, honored Heath Ledger.
- What
- They performed a contemporary dance and tribute on Dancing with the Stars. Cast members from 10 Things I Hate About You joined Stiles at the end.
- When
- Tuesday night, Oct. 20, 2026.
- Where
- On the Dancing with the Stars ballroom floor.
- Why
- Stiles dedicated the performance to Ledger, her late co-star in 10 Things I Hate About You.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
ABC announced that the show’s Dedication Night would feature performances honoring influential people and places.
Stiles told Variety that rehearsals for the tribute brought back memories and made her cry.
Sosa shared an Instagram statement about the care and respect they put into the tribute.
Stiles and Sosa performed the tribute on Dancing with the Stars, joined at the end by several of Stiles’ former castmates.
- Performance song
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
- Film
- 10 Things I Hate About You, released in 1999
- Dance partner
- Ezra Sosa
- Score
- 36/40, according to Page Six; four nines, according to Variety
- Ledger’s death
- 2008, age 28
9 sources
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What people are saying
I learned a lot from Heath. He was so authentic
I have so many great memories, but I’m also sad because I really wish that I could pick up the phone and be like, ‘Hey, dude. People really care about that movie. We did something special,’
This isn’t about defining a relationship or telling a story that isn’t ours to tell.
Our only hope is that it honors his memory with the dignity, love, and respect it deserves.