Julia Stiles Honors Heath Ledger with Dancing With the Stars Tribute After Consulting Michelle Williams
Julia Stiles performed a tribute to Heath Ledger on Dancing With the Stars, confirming she sought approval from Ledger’s former partner Michelle Williams, while cast members shared reactions.
Julia Stiles performed a dance on Dancing With the Stars that paid homage to Heath Ledger’s 1999 film “10 Things I Hate About You,” using Frankie Valli’s “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” as the soundtrack. Before the performance, Stiles said she asked Michelle Williams, Ledger’s former partner, for permission, and Williams responded affirmatively.
“I did ask Michelle if this was OK, and she said yes,” Stiles told Extra after the show.
Stiles declined to comment further on how Ledger’s family might view the tribute, stating she did not want to speak for them. The performance reunited most of the original cast, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Gabrielle Union, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan, though David Krumholtz was absent.
Krumholtz explained via an Instagram video that he was filming a movie in upstate New York and could not travel to Los Angeles for the event. He praised the tribute, calling it “amazing and stunning,” and expressed his personal loss of Ledger.
“Julia’s tribute to my dear friend, who I miss every single day, was amazing and stunning, and I’m so proud of her.”
Stiles responded to Krumholtz’s message with a brief comment, “We love you Krumholtz!”