Julia Stiles Got Michelle Williams’ Blessing for Heath Ledger Tribute on ‘DWTS’
WHO:
Vulture - David Krumholtz, who played Michael in “10 Things I Hate About You,” missed the reunion because he was shooting a film in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
Vulture - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt attended the reunion.
Variety - Julia Stiles performed a tribute to Heath Ledger, her co-star in the 1999 film “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Variety - Michelle Williams, Ledger’s former partner, was contacted by Stiles before the tribute.
Billboard - Ledger and Williams shared a daughter.
Us Magazine - Stiles, identified as 45, confirmed that she asked Williams for approval before honoring Ledger.
WHAT:
Vulture - Krumholtz said he would have loved to attend and called Stiles’s tribute to his friend “amazing and stunning”; he added, “I miss every single day.”
Vulture - Stiles replied to Krumholtz, “We love you Krumholtz!”
Variety - Stiles danced to Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” in a “Dancing With the Stars” tribute inspired by “10 Things I Hate About You.”
Us Magazine - Stiles told Extra, “I did ask Michelle if this was OK,” and said Williams replied, “She said yes.”
Billboard - The dance was described as a moving tribute to Ledger.
WHERE:
Vulture - Krumholtz said he was filming in the Catskill Mountains, upstate New York.
Variety - Stiles discussed the tribute with Extra after her “Dancing With the Stars” performance.
Us Magazine - Stiles spoke to Extra following “Dedication Night” on “Dancing With the Stars.”
WHEN:
Billboard - The tribute aired on Tuesday night, October 20.
Us Magazine - Stiles confirmed Williams’s approval following “Dedication Night” on Tuesday, October 20.
WHY:
Variety - Stiles’s dance paid homage to Ledger and their 1999 film.
Us Magazine - Stiles sought Williams’s approval before honoring Ledger.
HOW:
Variety - Stiles reached out to Williams ahead of the performance to ask about the tribute.
Billboard - Stiles honored Ledger through a dance routine based on “10 Things I Hate About You.”
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 05:05 UTC)
Julia Stiles honored her late “10 Things I Hate About You” co-star Heath Ledger with a dance tribute on “Dancing With the Stars.” Set to Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” the performance drew inspiration from the 1999 film and was described as moving. Before taking the stage, Stiles contacted Ledger’s former partner, Michelle Williams, to ask for her approval. Stiles later said Williams replied yes. The pair shared a daughter. David Krumholtz, who played Michael in the film, missed the reunion because he was shooting a movie in New York’s Catskill Mountains. He said he would have loved to attend and called Stiles’s tribute to his friend “amazing and stunning,” adding, “I miss every single day.” Stiles replied, “We love you Krumholtz!” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt attended the reunion.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 13:19 UTC)
Julia Stiles honored her former co-star Heath Ledger with a dance inspired by their 1999 film, “10 Things I Hate About You.” The tribute aired during “Dancing With the Stars,” where Stiles performed to Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Before taking the stage, Stiles reached out to Michelle Williams, Ledger’s former partner and the mother of his daughter, to ask whether she was comfortable with the tribute. Speaking with Extra after the show’s Dedication Night, Stiles confirmed she had asked for Williams’s approval. “I did ask Michelle if this was OK,” she said, adding that Williams replied, “She said yes.” Stiles, 45, said the dance was meant as a tribute to Ledger and the film they made together. The performance was described as a moving homage to the late actor.