Julia Stiles pays emotional tribute to late co-star Heath Ledger on Dancing With The Stars

Published: 11:48 EDT, 21 October 2026 | Updated: 11:50 EDT, 21 October 2026

Julia Stiles paid a moving tribute on Dancing With The Stars to the late Heath Ledger, her co-star in the romcom 10 Things I Hate About You, before viewers were stunned by the show’s shock elimination news.

The latest episode was eventful, with pro ballroom dancer Kym Johnson joining Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli as a guest judge for the big night.

Week six’s theme was Dedication Night, leaving the live audience and judges in tears after several moving performances.

Dancing With The Stars: Julia Stiles paid an emotional tribute to her late co-star Heath Ledger during week six of the dance competition series

Co-stars: Stiles and Ledger. were both in the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You

Viewers were also shocked when it was revealed there would be no eliminations, and all 10 remaining couples would move on to the next round.

Stiles, 45, closed out the episode with the final performance, dedicating her routine to Ledger.

She took to the dance floor with pro dance partner Ezra Sosa and performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli’s song Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

The actress wore a blue dress with shimmering details as she moved confidently across the ballroom floor. At the end of the choreography, a photo of Stiles and Ledger from the movie appeared on the background screen.

Her former castmates from the 1999 film then joined her on stage, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt.

They stood side by side, looked up at the image, then came together for an emotional embrace.

The actress’s performance was labeled ‘healing,’ and Stiles said Ledger ‘brought out the light in everybody.’

Both she and Sosa earned a 36/40 after the judges gave them nines.

In a video package before the performance, Stiles reflected on her friendship with the late actor during rehearsals.

‘I learned a lot from Heath,’ Stiles told Sosa. ‘It was so easy with him.’

Big news: Viewers were also shocked when it was revealed that there would be no eliminations, and all 10 couples still remaining will be moving on to the next round

Dazzling: She took to the dance floor with pro dance partner Ezra Sosa as they performed a contemporary routine to the song Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli

Line-up: She was joined by some of her former castmates from the movie, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt

During a video package before the performance, Stiles could be seen reflecting on her friendship with the late actor amid rehearsals

The actress continued: ‘I have so many great memories. I really wish I could pick up the phone and be like, “Hey dude.”‘

X users shared their thoughts on the performance, as one wrote: ‘The Julia Stiles tribute to Heath Ledger on DWTS…I’m in bits.’

Another added: ‘Julia Stiles dedicating her dance to Heath Ledger and the 10 Things I Hate About You cast is there, I’m still crying.’

‘Julia Stiles DWTS I just cried at work,’ a fan typed, and one added, ‘Julia Stiles dedicating her dance for Heath Ledger. The Poem voiceover, The Rose, and the entire cast at the end. My Millennial Heart.’

Another said: ‘When I say I literally cried…. I MEAN IT! at the beautiful, touchy poem and the whole cast gathered together to honor Heath Ledger. Oh beautiful! Julia Stiles I love you.’

Big moment: 10 Things I Hate About You star Julia Stiles reunited with the cast when they came to support her during her tribute to Heath Ledger on Dancing With The Stars

Display: At the end of the performance, she was joined by her former co-stars on the dance floor as a photograph of Julia and Heath appeared on the screen

Swing: The actress, 45, performed the contemporary routine with her dance partner Ezra Sosa during Dedication Night to Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Cast: From left, Andrew Keegan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough, Larisa Oleynik, and Susan May Pratt

Applause: Joseph, Gabrille and Larisa all clapped enthusiastically from the front row

Stars: Susan May Pratt as Mandella with Julia’s Kat in the film

Throwback: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron James in 10 Things I Hate About You

Wheels: Andrew Keegan as school stud Joey Donner, with Gabrielle Union as Chasity, left, and Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford

Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn took to the stage for an emotional contemporary dance in tribute to her sister Brooke, who had been by her side during hard times.

Dance partner Pasha Pashkov joined Glenn as they danced to Sia’s track Breathe Me.

The sports star moved across the floor as her sibling joined in, acting as a figure who was saving her from Glenn’s battle with depression and anxiety.

The judges offered critical praise for the choreography and applauded her ‘raw emotion’ in the dance.

Just moments later, Glenn and Pashkov earned a near-perfect 38/40, the season’s best score so far.

Jenna Dewan teamed up with DWTS pro Alan Bersten, who replaced her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, during his week-long suspension.

Olympian: Figure skater Amber Glenn took to the stage for an emotional contemporary dance in tribute to her sister Brooke, who had been by her side during hard times

Dazzling: Glenn was joined by dance partner Pasha Pashkov as they danced to Sia’s track Breathe Me, and her sibling also took part in the routine

He had been pulled from Dedication Night after he was accused of threatening to slap one of the show’s judges, Carrie Ann Inaba, over his wife Jenna Johnson’s low score on the same show.

The Step Up actress performed a moving Viennese Waltz routine with Bersten to Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers.

Her mother, Nancy, briefly joined in at the opening before Dewan moved across the floor with her dance partner in a flowy blue dress.

After the performance, the judges said the Hollywood star delivered ‘fantastic’ quality and an ‘effortless’ performance.

Inaba added that Dewan had an ‘ultimate breakthrough’ on the floor.

Wow: Just moments later, Glenn and Pashkov received a near perfect score of 38/40, which also happened to be the best scores of the entire season thus far

Glam: Jenna Dewan joined forces with DWTS pro Alan Bersten, who replaced her partner Val Chmerkovskiy amid his week-long suspension

Success: Both she and Bersten garnered a score of 37/40 after landing a 10 and three nines from the judges

Both she and Bersten earned 37/40 after the judges gave her a 10 and three nines.

Ezra Frech also stepped onto the ballroom floor with professional dance partner Daniella Karagach.

The pair also performed a contemporary dance to Mon Rovia’s song Bloodline, dedicated to his mother, Bahar.

His mom briefly performed with him, and the performance drew an emotional reaction from the judges.

Frech was praised for his ‘brilliant lifts’ and for giving fans and the live audience an ‘inspiring’ performance.

The judges gave Frech and Karagach a score of 37/40, including a 10 and three 9s.

Harry Shum Jr. and his pro dance partner, Jenna Johnson, danced the foxtrot to John Mayer’s track Stop This Train.

The Grey’s Anatomy actor dedicated his performance to his wife, Shelby, whom he married in 2015.

Moves: Ezra Frech also stepped onto the ballroom floor with professional dance partner Daniella Karagach

Popular: Frech was praised for his ‘brilliant lifts’ as well as giving fans and the live audience a performance that was ‘inspiring’

Huge: The judges have Frech and Karagach 37/40 which included a 10 and three nines

Snappy: Harry Shum Jr and his pro dancer partner Jenna Johnson danced the foxtrot to the song Stop This Train by John Mayer

His parents and daughter also joined the star on stage as part of the choreography.

The judges praised the actor and his ‘control’ on the floor.

Shum Jr. and Johnson earned four nines from the judges, for a score of 36/40.

Jackson Olson dedicated his dance to his mother alongside pro dance partner Emma Slater.

The duo performed the Quickstep to Nat King Cole’s classic L-O-V-E.

While the judges reminded the baseball player to focus on his frame in future performances, they added that the dance routine had been ‘so entertaining.’

Olson and Slater earned four eights, bringing their final score to 32/40 for the night.

Maura Higgins dedicated her performance to her home country, Ireland, with dance partner Mark Ballas.

Emotional: His parents as well as his daughter also had the chance to join the star on stage as part of the choreography

Big moment: Jackson Olson dedicated his dance to his mom alongside partner Emma Slater

Emerald: Maura Higgins dedicated her performance to her home country of Ireland with dance partner Mark Ballas

The model and Ballas performed energetic choreography to the Paso Doble, joined by a professional Irish dancer.

Higgins wore a sparkling green ensemble with a train in the colors of the Irish flag.

The judges applauded the powerful performance as ‘amazing’ and ‘fun.’

Higgins and Ballas earned a score of 35/40, with three nines and one eight.

Tatyana Ali and her professional dance partner Jan Ravnik danced the Viennese Waltz to the song (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson.

The actress dedicated her performance to her late Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery.

Alfonso Ribeiro, who also starred on the show, joined the choreography for a special moment.

Avery notably played Ali’s on-screen father on the series and recorded the track that played in the background during this week’s dance.

Big hit: The model and Ballas performed energetic choreography to the Paso Doble, and were joined by a professional Irish dancer for the routine

Smiles: Tatyana Ali and her professional dance partner Jan Ravnik danced the Viennese Waltz to the song (You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am by Nancy Wilson

The judges called the performance an ‘Old Hollywood film come to life’ and praised her ‘easy flow.’

Ali and Ravnik garnered a score of 32/40 after receiving four eights.

Tyler Cameron had a very special moment during his performance with dance partner Sharna Burgess.

The TV personality dedicated his contemporary routine to all mothers everywhere, including his own late mom.

During the performance, his fiancée, Tate Madden, joined him, and the couple revealed they are expecting their first child together as a sweet voiceover played in the background.

‘You would have loved the woman I’m gonna marry,’ he told his mother in the recording as they danced.

Glam: The judges labeled the performance as ‘Old Hollywood film come to life’ and applauded her ‘easy flow.’ Ali and Ravnik garnered a score of 32/40 after receiving four eights

Happy: Tyler Cameron had a special moment during his performance with Sharna Burgess

Reveal: During the performance, he was joined by fiancée Tate Madden, and the couple said they are expecting their first child together

‘All the things that made you special, I found in her. She’s gonna be the most incredible mama, just like you. And we’re gonna have a baby.’

Madden showed off her growing baby bump for the live audience and judges before Cameron lifted her into the air.

Cameron and his fiancée also unveiled their little one’s gender live on air.

The audience learned that they would be parents to a baby girl as pink confetti rained down. Cameron and Burgess scored 32/40.

Connor Wood joined his dance partner, Rylee Arnold, to perform the Viennese Waltz to Billy Joel’s song Piano Man.

News: Cameron and his fiancee also unveiled the gender of their little one live on air

On stage: Connor Wood joined his dance partner Rylee Arnold to perform the Viennese Waltz to the song Piano Man by Billy Joel

Upcoming: The next episode of DWTS airs on October 27 with the theme Horror Movie Night

The star dedicated his routine to his father, er Pete.

After the performance, Hough told Wood he has ‘come a long way,’ while the judges agreed he is the ‘most improved.’

Wood and Arnold scored 32/40—the next episode of DWTS airs on October 27 with the theme Horror Movie Night.