Influenced by Dancing with the Stars, the latest trend on social media is a wave of nostalgia from the late ’90s along with an abundance of crying emojis.
During the recent live dedication show, actress Julia Stiles honored her former co-star Heath Ledger from the movie 10 Things I Hate About You. Other cast members from the 1999 teen comedy also joined in paying tribute to the late actor.
Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, delivered a contemporary performance to the song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli. This choice was a heartfelt homage to the memorable scene where Ledger’s character serenades Stiles in the film.
Reflecting on her time working with Ledger, Stiles expressed genuine sadness despite cherishing many fond memories of their collaboration. She emphasized the desire to reconnect with Ledger and acknowledge the impact of their shared film experience.
The emotional dance routine concluded with a touching moment as Sosa left Stiles on the dance floor, accompanied by a poignant monologue from the movie and a visual tribute to Ledger. Stiles then placed a rose in remembrance of Ledger, surrounded by their former co-stars from 10 Things I Hate About You.
In a post-dance interview with host Julianne Hough, Stiles reminisced about her teenage years and the positive influence Ledger had on everyone during the filming of the movie. Ledger, who tragically passed away in 2008 at the age of 28, posthumously won an Oscar for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Receiving glowing scores, Sosa and Stiles achieved their highest rating of the season with nines across the board. The episode also featured other heartfelt tributes, including Tatyana Ali honoring her late Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery through a Viennese waltz performance with her partner, Jan Ravnik.
The show’s lineup of emotional dedications extended to various cast members paying tribute to their loved ones and colleagues, creating a touching and memorable evening for all involved.