During the live dedication show on Tuesday, Julia Stiles honored her former co-star Heath Ledger from the movie “10 Things I Hate About You” on Dancing with the Stars. Stiles, along with her partner Ezra Sosa, performed a contemporary routine to the song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli, reminiscent of Ledger’s character serenading Stiles in the film.

In a video played before the performance, Stiles expressed her genuine admiration for Ledger, recalling how easy and special it was to work with him. Despite cherishing many great memories, Stiles lamented Ledger’s absence, wishing she could share with him the impact their movie had on people and recreate his zest for life.

The routine culminated with a poignant moment as Sosa left Stiles on the dance floor while her iconic monologue from the movie played, accompanied by a photo of her and Ledger displayed overhead. Stiles then placed a rose in tribute to Ledger before reuniting with her “10 Things” co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt, and Andrew Keegan.

Reflecting on her journey from being 17 to the present, Stiles shared her emotional connection to the performance with host Julianne Hough. Ledger, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 28, posthumously won an Oscar for his role in “The Dark Knight.”

Scoring nines across the board, Stiles and Sosa achieved their highest score of the season. The night was filled with heartfelt tributes, including Tatyana Ali honoring her late “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star James Avery with a Viennese waltz performance alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, the show’s host and another co-star of the sitcom. Avery, who passed away in 2013, played a significant role in Ali’s life, embodying a father figure to her.

The episode left fans emotional, showcasing not only Stiles’ touching tribute to Ledger but also the heartfelt gestures of other participants honoring loved ones on the show.