A 1999 teen classic got a very emotional moment on primetime TV. Julia Stiles and her fellow “10 Things I Hate About You” cast members reunited to honor late co-star Heath Ledger on Tuesday night’s episode of “Dancing With the Stars.” Here is what happened. yahoo
The dance
It was Dedication Night, and Stiles chose to honor Ledger. She and her pro partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary dance to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The song carries meaning for fans of the movie. It’s the song Ledger’s Patrick Verona serenaded Stiles’s Kat Stratford with during her soccer practice at the high school stadium. yahooThe Hollywood Reporter
The reunion
The surprise came at the end. Stiles placed a rose in front of a giant photo of Ledger while audio of her character’s iconic poem from the movie played in the background. She was then joined by her fellow co-stars, including Andrew Keegan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union and Susan May Pratt. The cast stood together with their arms around one another and looked toward Ledger’s photo. Julia Stiles Reunites ’10 Things I Hate About You’ Cast to Honor Heath Ledger on ‘DWTS’ +2
What Stiles said
Afterward, she remembered Ledger as “magnetic.” She said he brought out the light in everybody and made everyone else shine, and that he was always about play. In rehearsal footage, she got emotional reflecting on their time working together, saying she learned a lot from him and recalling how natural their connection was on set. ’10 Things I Hate About You’ cast reunites with Julia Stiles on ‘DWTS’ – ABC7 New York +2
Her partner’s tribute
Sosa shared a reflection on Instagram, writing in part that it was about honoring a beautiful moment in time and a film that changed so many lives. abc7ny
The score
The judges awarded Stiles and Sosa 9s across the board, for a combined final score of 36. abc7ny
About the movie
Ledger and Stiles co-starred in “10 Things I Hate About You” in 1999 as Patrick Verona and Kat Stratford. The film was released in the U.S. on March 31, 1999, and has since become a cult classic, considered one of the best teen romantic comedies of all time. Ledger died in January 2008 at age 28. ’10 Things I Hate About You’ cast reunite with Julia Stiles on ‘DWTS’ +2
Fan reaction
The moment struck a chord with viewers. One fan wrote that tears immediately went down their eyes when the cast joined Stiles at the end. The Hollywood Reporter
How to watch
“Dancing With the Stars” airs live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu. abc7ny
Bottom line
More than 25 years after the movie, the cast came back together for one of the show’s most emotional dances. For fans, it was a reminder of why the film has lasted.
