Julia Stiles honors Heath Ledger on Dancing with the Stars as 10 Things I Hate About You cast reunites

A tribute and a reunion

Julia Stiles used Dedication Night on Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to honor Heath Ledger, her co-star in the 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, and finished the routine surrounded by members of the film's cast, according to LADbible and SSBCrack News. ^{[1] [2]}

Stiles and her professional partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary dance to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," the song Ledger's character, Patrick Verona, sings to Stiles' Kat Stratford in the film. ABC's Good Morning America had announced the song, style and dedication the week before the broadcast. ^{[1] [3]}

As the dance ended, audio of Stiles delivering her character's poem from the film played, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union and Susan May Pratt walked onto the floor to join her. SSBCrack News reported that a photo of Stiles and Ledger was shown and that Stiles placed a flower on the steps of the dance floor. ^{[1] [2]}

Scores and results

The judges gave the routine four 9s, a total of 36 out of 40, with Kym Johnson sitting in as guest judge alongside Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. DraftKings Network's results recap reported that no couple was sent home on Dedication Night. ^{[1] [4]}

In a pre-dance segment, Stiles said she wished she could "pick up the phone" to tell Ledger people still care about the film, LADbible reported. SSBCrack News said she wanted the dance to reflect his "lust for life." ^{[1] [2]}

James Avery also remembered

The same episode included a tribute from Tatyana Ali, who danced a Viennese waltz with Jan Ravnik dedicated to James Avery, who played Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Alfonso Ribeiro joined her on the floor, and the pair scored 32 out of 40, TV Insider reported. ^[5]

Avery died on Dec. 31, 2013, in Glendale, California, at 68. His publicist said at the time that he died of complications following open-heart surgery, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. ^[8]

How Heath Ledger died

Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22, 2008, at age 28, The Associated Press reported at the time. ^{[6] [3]}

In February 2008, the New York City medical examiner's office ruled his death an accident caused by acute intoxication from the combined effects of six prescription medications, including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleep aids. The office said the death resulted from the abuse of prescription medications, according to CNN and the AP. ^{[7] [6]}

What's next

With no elimination on Dedication Night, all remaining couples, including Stiles and Sosa, advance to next week's episode of Season 35. ^[4]