Dancing With the Stars Stages 2 Tearful Tributes to Heath Ledger and James Avery

Q: Which close figures from Heath Ledger's past secretly guided this tear-jerking reunion performance on live television?

The performance was shaped behind the scenes by people in Heath Ledger’s inner circle, though their names were not publicly disclosed. Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa said before the “Dancing With the Stars” tribute that it was created with “utmost respect, thoughtfulness, and close guidance from those who hold Heath and his memory closest.” Coverage of the dance repeatedly described the routine as being made in consultation with figures closest to Ledger’s memory, but neither Stiles nor Sosa identified them specifically. What was publicly confirmed is that the onstage reunion itself involved Ledger’s former “10 Things I Hate About You” castmates, whom Stiles personally asked to join her: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan. Their appearance helped represent the film’s legacy, while the unnamed close advisers helped ensure the tribute was handled delicately and authentically.

Q: How did the emotional return of the beloved 90s cast impact the unexpected elimination twist on Dancing With the Stars?

The reunion amplified the emotion of Dedication Night, but it did not trigger an elimination. After Julia Stiles’ Heath Ledger tribute — joined by key “10 Things I Hate About You” cast members including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt and Andrew Keegan — “Dancing With the Stars” announced a surprise twist: no one went home. That meant the emotional impact of the performance, and of the night more broadly, shaped the episode’s tone rather than its immediate competitive outcome. Stiles and Ezra Sosa earned 36 out of 40, one of the stronger scores of the night, with the tribute ending in a cast reunion beneath Ledger’s image. The performance was widely framed as one of the night’s standout moments. Cohosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro said the show chose not to eliminate any couple “on such a special night.” Instead, all judges’ scores and viewer votes from Dedication Night will carry over to the next episode. So the practical effect of the cast’s emotional return was indirect but significant: it helped define an unusually sentimental episode that producers protected from a standard send-off. The competition consequences were postponed, not erased. Next week’s Horror Movie Night will now feature a double elimination, meaning the emotional reprieve created by Dedication Night will likely make the following round more severe.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 21

Julia Stiles scored 36—her season best—after a contemporary dance honoring Heath Ledger, ending by placing a rose before his photo as the “10 Things I Hate About You” cast joined her on the floor.
Tatyana Ali followed with a 32, also her best score, after a Viennese waltz for James Avery that ended with former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star Alfonso Ribeiro embracing her before Avery’s portrait.
Both routines were built around personal memories: Stiles recalled wishing she could tell Ledger how much the film still means to fans, while Ali said Avery mentored her from age 11 and gave her dolls to affirm her beauty.
The episode was the show’s annual dedication week, turning a usually light competition into an emotional showcase that judges praised for preserving the legacies of both actors.