Julia Stiles Honors Heath Ledger on 'Dancing With the Stars'
Julia Stiles brought the ballroom to tears on October 20, 2026, during "Dedication Night" on Dancing With the Stars, performing a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" in honor of her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger. The performance, which Stiles called "a somber tribute" that also celebrates the joy of their iconic film scene, reunited several of the movie's cast members—Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt—onstage after the dance.
Stiles, who starred opposite Ledger in the 1999 teen rom-com, told Variety that she wanted the film's cast represented as she honored Ledger. "I have so many great memories, but I'm also sad because I really wish I could pick up the phone and be like, 'Hey, dude. People really care about that movie. We did something special,'" she said in a pre-performance video package. "And I can't do that."
The tribute has thrust Ledger's 2008 death back into the spotlight, prompting renewed questions about how the 28-year-old actor died at the height of his career.
How Did Heath Ledger Die?
Ledger was found unresponsive in his Manhattan apartment on January 22, 2008, just two months after filming wrapped on The Dark Knight, his intense portrayal of the Joker that would later earn him a posthumous Academy Award. He was 28.
The New York City medical examiner determined that Ledger died from acute intoxication caused by the combined effects of six prescription medications: oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine. The drugs included painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, and sleep aids. The manner of death was ruled an accident, and the ruling did not classify it as a suicide. Police said at the time there was no obvious indication of suicide.
Debunking the Joker Myth
One prevalent rumor suggested Ledger allowed himself to slip too far into the dark psyche of the Joker, leading to his death. His family has repeatedly rejected that theory. "He had an amazing sense of humor and certainly playing the Joker, for him it was one big gag. He had so much fun doing that. It was actually the exact opposite," his sister Kate Ledger said in the 2017 documentary I Am Heath Ledger. "There was no doom and gloom... That was a shock to me that people even thought that."
His father, Kim Ledger, told news.com.au in 2016 that the last conversation Kate had with Heath was about his medications, and she warned him about mixing them. The toxic combination proved fatal.
Context: A Career Cut Short
Ledger's death came at a pivotal moment. He had earned his first Oscar nomination for Brokeback Mountain (2005), where he met Michelle Williams, with whom he had a daughter, Matilda, now nearly 21. His performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight was already generating Oscar buzz before the film's release, and he became only the second actor to win a posthumous acting Oscar.
Stiles admitted she and Ledger did not keep in touch after filming 10 Things I Hate About You. "But when I heard about his death, I was incredibly sad, I was very shocked," she told Australia's ABC in 2016. "He was such a force, such a vibrant person, right at the really exciting time of his life."
The actor's death also highlighted the dangers of prescription drug interactions—a topic that remains relevant as opioid and polypharmacy crises continue to claim lives. Ledger's case, like those of other celebrities who died from accidental overdoses, brought increased attention to the risks of combining medications without proper medical supervision.
Perspective: Legacy and Renewed Attention
Nearly two decades after his death, Ledger's legacy endures through his performances and the affection of co-stars like Stiles, who used a national platform to ensure new generations remember him. The Dancing With the Stars tribute introduced Ledger to viewers who may not have seen his work, while also correcting misconceptions about his death.
For Stiles, the performance was deeply personal. She told Variety she began crying while rehearsing with old clips and hearing the actors' voices. "It's a lot," she said. The routine incorporated the poem her character recited in the film, and she wore a blue dress recalling her appearance in the movie.
As the conversation around mental health and addiction continues to evolve, Ledger's story serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of prescription drug mixing—and a reminder of a talent lost too soon. His family's efforts to debunk the Joker myth have helped separate the actor from his most famous role, preserving the memory of a man his sister described as full of humor and joy.
The renewed attention from the DWTS tribute ensures that Heath Ledger's death—and his life—remain part of the cultural conversation, even as the details of that January night in 2008 become clearer with time.
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