If your social media feed is brimming with nostalgia from the late ’90s and a flurry of crying emojis, you can thank Dancing with the Stars.
During the live tribute episode on Tuesday, Julia Stiles honored her 10 Things I Hate About You co-star, Heath Ledger.
Stiles was not alone in commemorating the late actor, as other cast members from the beloved 1999 teen film also participated in the tribute.
Stiles and her dance partner, Ezra Sosa, showcased a contemporary performance to Frankie Valli’s classic, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You — a choice that Sosa described as a “no brainer,” clearly referencing the scene where Ledger’s character, Patrick Verona, serenades Stiles’s character, Kat Stratford.
“The reaction on my face during that scene was completely real because I was genuinely charmed by him,” Stiles shared about Ledger in a video that aired before their dance.
“Looking at pictures from that time makes me think, wow, it was so effortless with him.”
Despite having “many wonderful memories,” Stiles expressed her sadness. “I truly wish I could call him and say, ‘Hey, dude, people still care about that movie. We created something special,'” she remarked, noting her desire to capture his “lust for life.”
Much like the film’s conclusion, the dance finale featured a special moment. Sosa left Stiles on the dance floor as her iconic monologue from the movie played, and a photo of her with Ledger was displayed above them.
She then placed a rose in his memory before revealing her 10 Things co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt, and Andrew Keegan, who joined her arm in arm.
Stiles and her partner Ezra Sosa performed a contemporary routine to Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli. (Disney)
After their performance, Stiles told host Julianne Hough, “What stood out to me during this dance was reflecting on who I was at 17 and who I am now.”
“Heath had the ability to bring out the best in everyone. He was the leader of our group at that time, making everyone else shine and encouraging a spirit of playfulness. We were incredibly playful back then.”
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Ledger tragically passed away from an accidental overdose in 2008 at the age of 28. That same year, he received a posthumous Academy Award for his portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
Stiles and Sosa achieved a score of nines from the judges, marking their highest score of the season.
While viewers may not appreciate getting emotional over a reality show on a Tuesday night, they largely echo Kat’s sentiments about Patrick — they don’t hate it. Not even close, not even a little bit, not at all.
Alongside Stiles, the evening featured numerous heartfelt tributes to the cast’s mothers, wives, and even fellow co-stars. Tatyana Ali dedicated her performance to her late Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery, enlisting her former co-star and DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro for the routine.
Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro, who co-starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, paid tribute to the late James Avery. (Disney)
Ali and her partner Jan Ravnik performed a Viennese waltz to (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson, with Ali recording her own rendition for the performance.
Avery, who passed away in 2013, portrayed Uncle Phil on the sitcom, a character whom Ali referred to as “a father figure to everyone.”
“The performance wouldn’t have been complete without Alfonso sharing the stage with me.”