See the “10 Things I Hate About You” Cast Then and Now as They Honor Late Star Heath Ledger

Sophie Dodd, Caroline Blair, Samantha StutsmanWed, October 21, 2026 at 6:01 PM UTC

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Heath Ledger, Allison Janney and Julia Stiles in ‘10 Things I Hate About You’Credit: Evertt -

Julia Stiles and the late Heath Ledger starred in the 1999 hit rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You

The coming-of-age film also featured Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan and Gabrielle Union, among others

In October 2026, several cast members reunited on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars to support Stiles and pay tribute to Ledger

More than 25 years after its release, 10 Things I Hate About You remains a beloved teen romantic comedy.

The 1999 film, a modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, follows Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a new student at Padua High School who falls for the popular Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik). However, Bianca’s overprotective father, Walter (Larry Miller), has one rule: She can’t date until her outspoken older sister, Kat (Julia Stiles), does.

Determined to win Bianca over, Cameron enlists the help of popular student Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan) to pay rebellious bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to date Kat. But as Patrick begins to develop genuine feelings for Kat, the scheme threatens to unravel.

10 Things I Hate About You inspired a TV series of the same name and an upcoming Broadway musical from a buzzy creative team including Lena Dunham and Carly Rae Jepsen. Director Gil Junger also exclusively revealed to PEOPLE in May 2025 that he’s developing a follow-up film, 10 Things I Hate About Dating, with hopes of expanding it into a trilogy.

In October 2026, several of the movie’s stars reunited on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars for Dedication Night. The cast members came together to support Stiles, who dedicated her performance to her late costar Ledger, who died in 2008 at age 28.

Here’s everything to know about the 10 Things I Hate About You cast’s lives today.

01 of 10

Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford

Julia Stiles as Kat; Julia Stiles in 2026Credit: Buena Vista/Getty; Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

After playing the snarky, anti-mainstream, feminist lead who learns to loosen up (who could forget that iconic table dancing scene?) and let love in, Stiles went on to star in two other film adaptations of Shakespeare plays in the early aughts (2000’s Hamlet and 2001’s Othello-inspired O).

She made notable appearances in other films, including Save the Last Dance (2001), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), The Prince and Me (2004), Hustlers (2022), Orphan: First Kill (2022), Chosen Family (2024) and the Bourne movie franchise. While building her Hollywood career, Stiles attended Columbia University and graduated with an English literature degree in 2005.

Stiles is currently competing on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars and chose to dedicate her week 6 performance to Ledger during the show’s Dedication Night. She told PEOPLE that rehearsing for the tribute was an “emotional” experience.

“Something about watching clips from that movie, seeing our pictures, hearing our voices is bringing up a lot,” Stiles said. “I really feel how important it is to honor him. He lives on because his performance in that film was so incredible.”

The actress married Preston J. Cook in 2017 and they have since welcomed three children.

02 of 10

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona; Heath Ledger in 2007Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

After serenading the soccer team in one of the most swoon-worthy scenes of all time while playing the mysterious, charming and seemingly rough-around-the-edges Patrick, Ledger went on to receive major critical acclaim.

He earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his turn in Brokeback Mountain (2005) and took the villainous Joker to new depths in The Dark Knight (2008). However, Ledger tragically died of an accidental overdose before the film’s release. He was posthumously awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role, with Ledger’s parents and sister accepting the award on his behalf.

“Firstly, we would like to thank the Academy for recognizing our son’s amazing work,” the star’s father, Kim, said. “This award tonight would have humbly validated Heath’s quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here, his peers within an industry he so loved.”

Ledger’s other notable roles include The Patriot (2000), A Knight’s Tale (2001) and the Oscar-winning drama Monster’s Ball (2001), along with The Four Feathers (2002), Ned Kelly (2003), The Order (2003), Lords of Dogtown (2005) and The Brothers Grimm (2005).

He is survived by daughter Matilda, whom he welcomed with ex Michelle Williams.

03 of 10

Larisa Oleynik as Bianca Stratford

Larisa Oleynik as Bianca; Larisa Oleynik in 2019Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Tibrina Hobson/Getty

Oleynik was already known for her role in The Baby-Sitter’s Club (1995) and the Nickelodeon show The Secret World of Alex Mack when she starred in 10 Things I Hate About You.

Since playing the conceited and popular Bianca (and forever sparking the debate of whether it’s possible to just be “whelmed”), the actress landed roles on a handful of TV shows, including Pretty Little Liars, Mad Men and Half Life.

More recently, Oleynik has appeared on Trinkets and The Healing Powers of Dude.

04 of 10

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron James

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron; Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 2026Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Arturo Holmes/Getty

After learning French to woo Bianca as the lovesick Cameron, Gordon-Levitt continued to steal our hearts in other film appearances, most notably the indie hit (500) Days of Summer (2009).

He also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) before starring in his own 2013 directorial debut, Don Jon.

Gordon-Levitt appeared in the film The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) and on the Apple TV series Mr. Corman and Showtime’s Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.

The Emmy-winning actor went on to star opposite Eddie Murphy in Netflix’s 2024 comedy action sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

In 2014, Gordon-Levitt married Tasha McCauley. They have three children.

05 of 10

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Andrew Keegan as Joey Donner

Andrew Keegan as Joey; Andrew Keegan in 2024Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Gerardo Mora/Getty

Since playing vain and vapid aspiring model Joey Donner, Keegan has appeared in numerous films and TV series, even reuniting with Stiles for O. He’s best known on the small screen for his role as Wilson West on 7th Heaven.

In 2014, Keegan founded the spiritual community center Full Circle Venice, which has since seemingly ceased operations.

The actor starred alongside horror alums Tony Todd and Kane Hodder in the 2023 thriller The Activated Man. The movie won several awards at various film festivals. His recent credits include Healing Towers (2025) and the short film Little Chaplin (2026).

Keegan’s daughter, Aiya Rose, whom he shares with Arista Ilona, was born in March 2016.

06 of 10

Gabrielle Union as Chastity

Gabrielle Union as Chastity; Gabrielle Union in 2026Credit: Everett; John Lamparski/Getty

Gabrielle Union became a Hollywood mainstay after playing Bianca’s social-climbing best friend in 10 Things I Hate About You.

In addition to her appearances in Bring It On (2000) and the Think Like A Man film series, Union turned her focus to TV, starring on BET’s Being Mary Jane before reprising her Bad Boys II role of Sydney Burnett on L.A.’s Finest.

In 2017, Union became a New York Times best-selling author with her memoir We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True. She released her second memoir, You Got Anything Stronger?, in 2021 and has authored two children’s books.

In 2023, she starred in the Apple TV+ crime series Truth Be Told alongside Octavia Spencer and later landed a supporting role in the film Forbidden Fruits, which premiered in 2026.

Union and former NBA player Dwyane Wade tied the knot in 2014. The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Kaavia, via surrogate in 2018. She is also stepmother to Wade’s three children from two previous relationships, as well as Wade’s nephew Dahveon Morris, for whom Wade is legal guardian.

07 of 10

David Krumholtz as Michael Eckman

David Krumholtz as Michael; David Krumholtz in 2026Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Manny Carabel/Getty

Following his turn as the nerdy and neurotic Michael, David Krumholtz continued his role as head elf Bernard in 2002’s The Santa Clause 2, and reprised the part on an episode of the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses in 2022.

He appeared on several TV series throughout the early aughts — most notably Numb3rs from 2005 to 2010.

The actor reunited with 10 Things I Hate About You costar Allison Janney on the CBS sitcom Mom in 2015 and appeared on HBO’s The Deuce. After making his Broadway debut in 1992, Krumholtz returned to the New York stage in Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt for the 2022–23 season.

In 2023, he was part of the impressive ensemble cast in Nolan’s critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning historical biopic Oppenheimer. Most recently, he played a role in 2026’s Supergirl.

Krumholtz has been married to actress Vanessa Britting since 2010 and they have since welcomed two children.

08 of 10

Larry Miller as Walter Stratford

Larry Miller as Walter Stratford; Larry Miller in 2010Credit: Touchstone Pictures; John Shearer/WireImage

Miller was already a well-established comedic actor when he landed the role of the hilariously overprotective, teen pregnancy-fearing father of Kat and Bianca.

Among his numerous subsequent film and TV appearances, he is perhaps best known for his turn as Princess Mia’s brash stylist Paolo in The Princess Diaries and its sequel, along with Pretty Woman (1990) and A Mighty Wind (2003).

Miller reprised his role as Mr. Stratford in the short-lived TV reboot of 10 Things I Hate About You and also played Principal Perkales on the miniseries High School Cupid, a Cupid Inc. Story.

He has been married to producer Eileen Conn since 1993, and the couple share two children.

09 of 10

Susan May Pratt as Mandella

Susan May Pratt as Mandella; Susan May Pratt in 2019Credit: Everett; Tibrina Hobson/Getty

After her turn as Kat’s Shakespeare-obsessed best friend, Susan May Pratt appeared in teen movies Drive Me Crazy (1999) and Center Stage (2000) before landing several roles on the small screen throughout the 2000s, including in Masters of Sex and Outcast.

She welcomed two children with her late husband, actor Kenneth Mitchell, who died in 2024 following his ALS diagnosis.

10 of 10

Allison Janney as Ms. Perky

Allison Janney as Ms. Perky; Allison Janney in 2026Credit: Touchstone Pictures; Robin L Marshall/Getty

Janney’s role as the high school guidance counselor who is more focused on writing her erotic novel than on her students is one in a long list of acting credits.

On the small screen, the Emmy-winning actress is known for playing C.J. Cregg on The West Wing and Bonnie on Mom.

In 2018, Janney earned an Oscar for her turn as Tonya Harding’s mom in I, Tonya. She followed that up with appearances in the critically acclaimed films Bombshell (2019) and To Leslie (2022). She then starred opposite John David Washington and Gemma Chan in the 2024 Oscar-nominated action drama The Creator.

In September 2026, Janney took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Netflix’s The Diplomat.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”