Here's how the '10 Things I Hate About You' cast paid tribute to Heath Ledger

• Julia Stiles and her 10 Things I Hate About You co-stars reunited on Dancing With the Stars for an emotional Dedication Night tribute
• Stiles and her partner Ezra Sosa performed a contemporary dance to Can't Take My Eyes Off You, the same song Heath Ledger famously serenaded her character with in the 1999 film
• A before-and-after photo of the cast surfaced on social media and instantly sparked nostalgia among long-time fans of the movie

It was a night that moved an entire ballroom to tears. Julia Stiles brought several of her 10 Things I Hate About You castmates together on the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars for a powerful tribute to their late co-star Heath Ledger, turning what could have been just another competition performance into a deeply personal farewell.

Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off You for Dedication Night, a song that carries enormous weight for fans of the beloved 1999 rom-com. In one of the film's most iconic scenes, Ledger's character Patrick Verona serenaded Stiles' Kat Stratford with that very track.

The moment that stopped the ballroom

When the music faded, Sosa quietly stepped off the floor, and one by one, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt, and Andrew Keegan walked out to stand beside Stiles. The group linked arms and looked up at a screen displaying Ledger's photo, creating a moment that few in the audience will forget quickly.

The Australian actor passed away on 22 January 2008, nearly a decade after the film wrapped, following an accidental reaction to prescription medication. He was just 28 years old.

Speaking after the performance, Stiles opened up about what made Ledger so unforgettable.

"He brought out the light in everybody. He just made everybody else shine."

Before-and-after photo stirs emotions

Shortly after the emotional performance, a before-and-after photo of the cast surfaced online and left fans feeling all kinds of emotions in the comment section.

Elizabeth Corzo said:

"The space where Heath would've stood."

Monique Shull wrote:

"This cast doesn't look super different! But what a beautiful way to honour someone as incredible as Heath was."

Jennifer Amati was shattered:

"Not me looking for Heath, then remembering."

Elizabeth Grimm added:

"I was vibing to that dance until she stopped and then, BOOM, unexpected tears."

See the before-and-after photos below.

David Kramer mourns his wife

In an earlier report, Briefly News shared a statement from theatre icon David Kramer as he announced his beloved wife's passing.

Briefly News shared insight into her incredible life and legacy, looking back at her contributions to South African theatre.

Source: Briefly News

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