Description: The October 20, 2026 tribute connected a 1999 movie serenade with an unexpected cast reunion.
Julia Stiles honored her late 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger during Dancing with the Stars on October 20, 2026. The song is the one Ledger's character Patrick Verona famously sings to Stiles' Kat Stratford in the 1999 teen comedy.
The joke behind the original serenade
Patrick turns a private declaration of affection into an outrageous public performance on the school bleachers. It is funny because it is excessive, and romantic because he appears sincere. The song existed before the movie and is associated with Frankie Valli. DWTS referenced that film scene; it was not unveiling a new Ledger recording.
What happened on Dedication Night?
The season 35 episode aired at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+. Stiles performed contemporary dance with Ezra Sosa. Reports describe nods to Kat's appearance, a reading of the film's poem, and a rose beside a photograph. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan and Susan May Pratt joined her at the end. Four judges awarded nine points each: 36 out of 40.
Why the reunion mattered
The movie came out 27 years earlier, and Ledger died in 2008. His absence gave the cheerful song a second meaning. Stiles said she wanted a sincere and authentic tribute, not simply a sad moment. Fans recognized Patrick's playful energy from the first notes.
Bottom line
This was neither a sequel announcement nor a clue about the actors' private relationships. A comic romantic gesture from 1999 became the emotional thread of a reunion in 2026.
References (5)
- ABC official programme
- People, October 21 performance
- E! News, October 21 scene and score
- TV Insider, October 20 staging
- People, Stiles interview
Verification: based on dated broadcast reporting and interviews, not independent viewing of the full original video. No invented viewer comments or private-life claims.
