Why 10 Things' David Krumholtz Wasn't in the DWTS Heath Ledger Tribute

"I would have loved, loved, loved to have been there," he said. "Everyone looked so amazing. Julia's tribute to my dear friend, who I miss every single day, was amazing and stunning, and I'm so proud of her."

The Save the Last Dance actress paid homage to the 1999 film, in which Patrick dazzled her character Kat Stratford by serenading her from the high school bleachers. The contemporary dance routine concluded with a portion of Kat's infamous poem to Patrick as she hugged her costars.

Krumholtz beamed, "I thought the cast looked amazing. They all look so young still."

He also showed off his freshly shaved head after pulling off his winter hat, quipping, "It would have been weird because I've shaved what's left of my hair and then it becomes a whole internet fodder."

However, he clarified that whether fans would've been overwhelmed, underwhelmed or just whelmed wasn't the reason for his absence. 

"I didn't want that, but that's not why I wasn't there," the Santa Claus actor emphasized. "I would have dealt with it. Anyway, love them all."

Before stepping onto the ballroom floor, Stiles—who earned a 36 out of 40—shared more than 10 things she loved about working with Ledge before his 2008 death at age 28.

"I learned a lot from Heath. He was so authentic," Stiles reflected during the episode. "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.'"

So, she and Sosa set out to "recreate the lust for life" Heath had embodied in the William Shakespeare-adapted movie more than 25 years earlier.

"What came up for me a lot in this dance was remembering who I was at 17 years old and who I am now," she said after the dance. "We were so playful back then." 

While Stiles and Sosa prepare to take on DWTS' Halloween episode on Oct. 27, keep reading to see all the season 35 stars competing for the Mirrorball Trophy.