Hayden Panettiere, who became a household name as a teenager for her role in Heroes and later starred in Nashville and multiple Scream films, has died at age 36.
Panettiere was pronounced dead at a South Carolina apartment Sunday, August 16. A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma. Toxicology reports are pending and could take up to 12 weeks, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
A newly released incident report states that the 911 call was made by Brian Hickerson, 37, who is referred to as Panettiere’s boyfriend. His brother Zach Hickerson was also present on the scene.
Brian Hickerson reportedly turned over a “bag of medication” belonging to Panettiere to the police, but the contents of that bag has so far been redacted. The Independent has approached police for further information.
The actor’s father, Skip, confirmed Panettiere’s death in a heartbreaking statement to ABC News. Panettiere’s ex-fiance, Wladimir Klitschko said he was “deeply saddened” by the news but vowed to make sure the couple’s daughter, Kaya, “remembers the person” Panettiere was.
Dozens of Panettiere’s co-stars including Connie Britton, Tim Allen, Viola Davis and Melissa Barrera have offered heartfelt tributes to the two-time Golden Globe nominee on social media.
Among her most memorable roles were Sheryl Yoast in the 2000 Denzel Washington-led film Remember the Titans, high school cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s sci-fi drama Heroes (2006-2010), and aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes on the hit TV series Nashville (2012-2018).
Her New York Times bestselling memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, was published in May this year, in which she looked back at her childhood in Hollywood and her experiences with addiction, postpartum depression, abusive relationships, and the loss of custody of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
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Key Points
- Hayden Panettiere dead: Heroes and Nashville star dies aged 36
- Wladimir Klitschko breaks silence over ex-fiancée's death
- Panettiere's estranged mother Lesley Vogel speaks out about her daughter's death
- Panettiere's relationship with Klitchsko and daughter, Kaya
- Full autopsy and toxicology report could take up to 8 weeks
Hayden Panettiere dead: Heroes and Nashville star dies aged 36
Monday 17 August 2026 05:06 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, and the Scream franchise, has died aged 36.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip said in a statement to ABC News. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
No cause of death was announced.
Wladimir Klitschko breaks silence over ex-fiancée's death
Tuesday 18 August 2026 14:44 , Caitlin HornikIn an Instagram post, Wladimir Klitschko wrote: “Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief.
“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.
“I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences.
“Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace. #WeLoveYouHayden”
Mariska Hargitay recalls Hayden Panettiere’s ‘light’ after SVU appearances
05:45 , Shahana YasminMariska Hargitay has shared a tribute to Hayden Panettiere, who appeared twice on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit before becoming a star in Heroes and Nashville.
Hargitay posted a black-and-white photograph from Panettiere’s second appearance on the crime drama, which aired in 2005. Panettiere first appeared on SVU in 2001, playing troubled teenager Ashley Austin, before returning four years later as another character, Angela Agnelli.
“Holding you in my heart. Heartbroken about your hard journey. Remembering your light,” Hargitay wrote alongside the photograph.
Panettiere was 12 during her first SVU appearance and 16 when she returned to the series.
Panettiere spoke about her relationship with her daughter, Kaya
05:30 , Kevin Perry
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter with her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. She then gave Klitschko full custody of Kaya in 2018 amid her severe postpartum depression.
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I wanted to be a good mom,” she told People in 2022.
“And sometimes that means letting go.”
Panettiere added: “She has a beautiful life. She’s smart, she’s funny, and for whatever reason, she still loves me.”
Solange Knowles calls Hayden Panettiere a ‘warrior’ in tribute
05:15 , Shahana YasminSolange Knowles has shared a tribute to Hayden Panettiere, her co-star in the 2006 cheerleading film Bring It On: All or Nothing.
“Rest in peace Hayden. In peace, because you are so deserving of it,” Knowles wrote on Instagram Stories. “We had so many parallels in our lives, and the world watched you so courageously live in your radical truth telling your story: we watched your endless quest for vulnerability, and healing.”
Knowles called them “warriors for life” and said she would “salute your journey” and the work they created together, which “became something that really means something to people”.
“The light surrounds you,” she wrote.
Police report sheds new light on Hayden Panettiere’s death
05:00 , Shahana YasminA police report has provided new details about the circumstances surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s death, including the presence of Brian Hickerson, referred to as her boyfriend, and his brother Zach at the Greenville, South Carolina, apartment where she was found.
As local station WYFF4 reports, the brothers called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive at Judson Mill Lofts.
Brian, 37, also handed officers a bag containing Panettiere’s medication, although the names of the drugs were redacted.
The officer wrote: “I observed Zach to be very emotional while EMS [Emergency Medical Services] were working on Hayden. Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased.”
Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2.31pm. Police said there were no signs of foul play, while the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and toxicology results.
Bring It On co-star Gustavo Carr says Hayden Panettiere brought ‘a piece of her soul’ to acting
04:45 , Shahana YasminGustavo Carr described his Bring It On: All or Nothing co-star Hayden Panettiere as “wise beyond her years”.
Carr played Jesse, Panettiere’s love interest Britney in the 2006 cheerleading sequel. “What I would give to just have been able to give her one more hug,” he told People magazine.
“She just was wise beyond her years and present. The artist that she is – I don’t think we give her enough credit for how the prodigy that she is in my eyes, the level of expertise in her craft.”
Carr said the pair “were friends from the jump”, remembering the “banter” behind their memorable krump-style dance-off in the film.
hayden panettiere has passed away, rest in peace my krumping queen i’m gonna stream bring it on all day 😫 pic.twitter.com/XpMLQ4O3aF
— brie ꕤ ₊˚⊹🕷 (@heavensballroom) August 17, 2026
“She was a kind, supportive, giving, lighthearted, funny human,” he said. “You can tell she’s just bringing a piece of her soul to her work.”
“I hope that people can give her the flowers that she deserves,” Carr added. “She was a prodigy. She is a prodigy.”
'I didn't get a chance to be a kid,' Panettiere said
04:30 , Kevin Perry
Speaking to People in 2022 about her career as a child star, Panettiere said: “There are happy memories, but there was also a lot of trauma.
“Crying over and over again [for a scene], what does that do to a child’s mind, when they’re praised for feeling sad?”
“I didn’t get a chance to be a kid,” she continued.
“And when I was at school, I was bullied. The lunchroom was the bane of my existence. I was only about 12 when I had an identity crisis. I just didn’t know where I fit in.”
Guiding Light co-stars recall Hayden Panettiere as a ‘brilliant’ young actor
04:21 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere’s former Guiding Light co-stars have been sharing memories of her as a child actor, with Beth Chamberlin describing her as “the most brilliant child actor I’ve ever seen”.
Chamberlin, who played Hayden’s on-screen mother Beth Raines, worked with her from 1996 to 2000, when Panettiere played Lizzie Spaulding. “The things she could do, the way she could remember 20+ pages of dialogue, day after day. Even on days where the director would come out between dress and tape and make huge cuts to the scenes, Hayden, never once forgot a line or missed her blocking,” she wrote on Instagram.
Brittany Snow, who played Lizzie’s stepsister Daisy Lemay, said: “I was lucky enough to play your sister for 3 years. I related to you so much in so many ways. Ways that I never even told you.”
She continued: “Always supportive, curious, funny and brave. You will always be remembered undoubtedly for your undeniable strength and spirit.”
Tina Sloan, who played Lizzie’s grandmother Lillian Raines, also shared a tribute, calling Panettiere “a star”.
Hilary Duff recalls late-night chats with Hayden Panettiere as young stars
04:00 , Shahana YasminHilary Duff has spoken about her friendship with Hayden Panettiere, remembering “staying up late, chatting, and gossiping” while both were young stars navigating life in Hollywood.
“Sweet Hayden. Really tough hearing this news,” Duff wrote. “We lost touch through the years but I will always remember you as so hardworking and effervescent, with that big, gorgeous smile.”
Duff said they both belonged to “such a small sliver of people who actually understood the strange lot in life we were navigating” and were “so young, with no real idea how to make sense of any of it” .
“I so deeply wish this wasn’t the end for you,” she added. “Sending a heart full of love to your family, the many people you impacted and everyone who loved you. Rest easy.”
Duff and Panettiere were both prominent young stars in the early 2000s, though they never starred together.
Hayden Panettiere's relationship with Klitschko and daughter, Kaya
03:35 , Kevin Perry
Hayden Panettiere met former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2009 and they started dating soon after. After an initial split in 2011, they reunited in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, the following year.
Following this, Panettiere had postpartum depression, which led to an addiction to alcohol and opioids. While she dealt with her struggles, she gave full custody of Kaya to Klitchsko, who moved her to Ukraine.
Reflecting on this, Panettiere called her decision a “living nightmare” that “wasn’t fully” her decision. But after going to rehab for eight months in 2020, she maintained a good co-parenting relationship with Klitchsko, and the pair remained close until her death. Kaya is now 11.
The Independent interviewed Hayden Panettiere in May
02:30 , Kevin PerryIn May 2026, Hayden Panettiere gave one of her final interviews to The Independent, which we have republished. In it, the Heroes and Nashville star spoke about domestic violence, her estrangement from her mother, and being fired from the movie that could have changed her life.
Hayden Panettiere: ‘My mom wasn’t interested in having a normal relationship with me’
Hayden Panettiere speaking about being 'fired' from Neutrogena
01:40 , Kevin PerryHayden Panettiere's younger brother died in 2023
Wednesday 19 August 2026 00:25 , Kevin Perry
Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 due to complications with his heart.
Jansen had an undiagnosed enlarged heart, as well as aortic valve complications.
His sudden death was extremely painful for Hayden, who told People in 2024: He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him.”
“When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul,” she said.
Hayden Panettiere was estranged from 'complex' mother
Tuesday 18 August 2026 23:30 , Kevin Perry
Hayden Panettiere opened up about her relationship with her “complex” mother, Lesley Vogel, who signed her up to an acting and modelling agent when she was just four months old.
However, growing up, Panettiere said that receiving praise for her work “was also all wrapped up in pleasing” her mother, who had some success as a soap star in the 1980s.
Panettiere wrote about her mother in her memoir earlier this year, revealing that if she “wasn’t honest about my relationship with her, I wouldn’t be being honest at all” as she is “a huge part of the person I am today”.
Panettiere cut professional ties with her mother while working on Heroes, aged 19. She asked to meet her in her trailer, and begged her to just be her mother. “All I wanted was a dynamic that didn’t involve contracts, producers, boho tops, or drinking wine at industry parties,” she wrote in the memoir.
Vogel, Panettiere claimed, “picked up her purse, clenched her jaw, and looked straight at me. ‘You owe me,’ she answered. Then she turned around and walked out of my trailer ... I knew I’d done the right thing, but I sensed something in me had died.”
Before her death, Panettiere said they were estranged, but expressed hope that they would one day reconcile.
Ice Princess director remembers Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg
Tuesday 18 August 2026 22:35 , Kevin Perry.jpeg)
Tim Fywell, who directed Disney’s beloved 2005 ice skating movie Ice Princess, has reflected on the tragic fact that both of the film’s star have now died prematurely.
The death of Panettiere follows that of Michelle Trachtenberg, who died last year at the age of 39.
In a statement to Variety, Fywell said: “It was really upsetting to hear yesterday of the death of Hayden Panettiere at the age of 36. I remember a brave, sparky, dedicated young actress who lit up the set in rehearsals and then the screen with her vibrant talent. Michelle Trachtenberg, Hayden’s co-star in the movie, and she were an amazing pair.”
Fywell added that the pair had “very different personalities.” While Trachtenberg was “kooky, fun, with an infectious laugh and her brilliant sad-funny comic timing,” Panettiere was “plucky and determined and perfectionist, spending hours practicing her skating and utterly focused on getting every acting take spot-on and truthful. Which she did.”
Fywell concluded: “In what was often a tough and technically complicated shoot, and my first Hollywood movie, they were delightful to work with and great to have around. I remember them both with huge affection, how they were 20 odd years ago, at that relatively uncomplicated time of their lives, two shining talents, gone far too soon.”
Paris Hilton remembers 'beautiful soul'
Tuesday 18 August 2026 20:59 , Kevin Perry
Paris Hilton has shared an emotional tribute to Panettiere, writing on Instagram:
“Heartbroken over the loss of my friend Hayden.
“She was such a beautiful soul — so talented, strong, kind and full of so much love and light. It’s impossible to believe she’s gone.
“I’ll always cherish our friendship, all the memories we shared, and the special moments we had together.
“My heart is with her family and everyone who loved her during this unimaginable time.
“Love you forever, Hayden. Rest in peace, angel. You will be so deeply missed.”
'Raising Helen' co-star recalls 13-year-old Panettiere lifting his spirits on set
Tuesday 18 August 2026 20:37 , Kevin Perry
Joseph Mazzello has recalled how Panettiere gave him a lift when the pair starred together in 2004’s Raising Helen.
Mazzello wrote in an Instagram post: “I was kind of at a low point in my career, having to prove myself again as a young adult, so I took a small role in the movie Raising Helen because of the legendary director Gary Marshall. The role got even smaller cause my main scene was cut out of the script for being too similar to another comedy at the time, but I still did it even though I felt kind of down about myself for it.
“My first day I was sitting alone at lunch and a 13 year old Hayden Panettiere came and sat down next to me and exclaimed, ‘What the f*** are you doing here?’ I didn’t know what she meant exactly so I stammered. She then said ‘you’re so talented and do so much amazing work, why are you doing this bit part in this movie?; The truth was because this business is tough, but that little exchange made me feel so much better about my life and career, that someone who was clearly a rising star knew me, noticed, and gave me a boost of self confidence in a moment I was severely lacking it.
“We didn’t stay in touch much. I only saw her one other time after that movie, but I always was happy every time I saw her succeed. SHE was so talented. SHE did such amazing work. I’m so sad we won’t see more of it. My heart goes out to Hayden and her family.”
Panettiere's estranged mother Lesley Vogel speaks out about her daughter's death
Tuesday 18 August 2026 19:46 , Kevin Perry
Lesley Vogel took aim at Brian Hickerson in her first public comments since the death of her estranged daughter, Hayden Panettiere, telling NBC News:
“This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.”
She added: “I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry - it is a struggle and it's a very challenging industry and it’s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.
“I think it becomes very difficult to be true to yourself, and I think Hayden sadly lost her way, and I wish it were different. I wish she had stayed true to herself because she had many incredible attributes.”
She concluded: “I just feel that she’s with her brother and they’re at peace.” Panettiere’s younger brother Jansen died unexpectedly in 2023 at the age of 28.
Hilary Duff shares tribute to 'hardworking and effervescent' Panettiere
Tuesday 18 August 2026 18:57 , Kevin Perry
Hilary Duff, who was a fellow child star in the early 2000s, has shared her memories of Panettiere.
She wrote in a post on Instagram: “Sweet Hayden. Really tough hearing this news. We lost touch through the years but I will always remember you as so hardworking and effervescent, with that big, gorgeous smile.
“I remember staying up late, chatting and gossiping, and connecting because we were part of such a small sliver of people who actually understood the strange lot in life we were navigating.. so young, with no real idea how to make sense of any of it.
“I so deeply wish this wasn’t the end for you. Sending a heart full of love to your family, the many people you impacted and everyone who loved you. rest easy.”
Who is Brian Hickerson?
Tuesday 18 August 2026 18:45 , Kevin PerryBrian Hickerson, who was listed as Panettiere’s boyfriend in the incident report related to her death, had a long and complicated history with the star.
The pair reportedly dated on-and-off from 2018. In 2020, Hickerson was arrested on multiple felony charges, including two charges of assault stemming from two allegedly abusive incidents from May 2019 to January 2020.
He pleaded no contest to two felony counts in 2021 and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.
In 2023, Panettiere opened up about her ongoing relationship with him:
Hayden Panettiere talks relationship with ex Brian Hickerson after arrest
Incident report confirms Brian Hickerson and brother called police
Tuesday 18 August 2026 18:35 , Kevin PerryPolice in Greenville, South Carolina, have released an incident report revealing further details about the circumstances of Panettiere’s death.
As local station WYFF4 reports, Panettiere died in an apartment at Judson Mill Lofts on Easley Bridge Road.
Brian Hickerson, 37, who is referred to as Panettiere’s boyfriend, was also present at the apartment with his brother, Zach.
According to the report, the men say they made the 911 call.
The report also states that Brian Hickerson turned over a bag of Panettiere’s medications, but the list of those medications was redacted.
The police officer who wrote the report also noted: "I observed ZACH to be very emotional while EMS [Emergency Medical Services] were working on HAYDEN. Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased.”
Panettiere's 'Remember the Titans' co-star reveals he smoked heroin at film’s premiere: ‘I believed I wouldn’t wake up’
Tuesday 18 August 2026 18:16 , Kevin PerryEthan Suplee has paid tribute to his Remember the Titans co-star Hayden Panettiere, sharing how her “energy and innocence” briefly healed him during a difficult period.
Sharing an old photo of him holding Panettiere at the film’s red carpet premiere, Suplee recalled on Instagram how she “ran up to me, leaped into my arms, and gave me a big hug.”
“Holding her I was lighter, some of her energy and innocence washed over me, and for a moment my smile was genuine,” he added in the caption, revealing that soon after, he “went from the press line to the bathroom and smoked heroin.”
Continue reading:
Remember the Titans star reveals he smoked heroin at film’s premiere
Panettiere's 'Bring It On: All or Nothing' co-star Solange Knowles pays tribute
Tuesday 18 August 2026 17:56 , Caitlin HornikKnowles, who co-starred with Panettiere in the 2006 film, shared a series of photos Tuesday on her Instagram Story.
“We had so many parallels in our lives, and the world watched u so courageously live in your radical truth telling your story. We watched your endless quest for vulnerability, and healing,” Knowles wrote.
“The light surrounds you now. Rest easy, Hayden.”
Panettiere said she had 'a lot of life left to live'
Tuesday 18 August 2026 17:43 , Caitlin HornikIn one of her last interviews with podcaster Jay Shetty in the months before her death, Hayden Panettiere spoke about her future with hope.
Jay Shetty is 'devastated and heartbroken' over Panettiere
Tuesday 18 August 2026 17:29 , Caitlin HornikPodcaster Shetty shared a tribute on social media Tuesday, months after he sat with Panettiere for what would turn out to be one of her final interviews.
“I’ve been devastated and heartbroken since I heard the news. I’m in shock and have been processing for the past day on your legacy and our loss,” he wrote.
“Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of sitting down with you on On Purpose. After the episode you told me it was truly healing. You said I was now like a big brother to you and that I helped you be brave,” he continued.
“But Hayden, you were the brave one. You were courageous, resilient, and so incredibly strong through so many difficult moments in your life. You should never have had to experience the things you did.”
Dear Hayden.
— Jay Shetty (@jayshetty) August 18, 2026
I’ve been devastated and heartbroken since I heard the news. I’m in shock and have been processing for the past day on your legacy and our loss.
Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of sitting down with you on On Purpose. After the episode you told me it… pic.twitter.com/iYEMOEybgs
Another 'Heroes' star pays tribute: 'Goodbye Hayden'
Tuesday 18 August 2026 17:10 , Caitlin HornikJimmy Jean-Louis, who played The Haitian on Heroes with Panettiere, honored his co-star on social media.
“It was an honor to protect Claire Bennett for 4 unforgettable seasons. Goodbye Hayden,” he wrote.
SAVE THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD. It was an honor to protect Claire Bennett for 4 unforgettable seasons. Goodbye Hayden 💔 pic.twitter.com/jBWeOpcyZD
— Jimmy Jean-Louis (@haitianhero) August 17, 2026
Neutrogena under fire again for dropping Panettiere after she revealed postpartum depression struggle
Tuesday 18 August 2026 16:56 , Caitlin HornikIn the months before her death, Panettiere spoke about the skincare brand ending her contract after 10 years following her comments about mental health made on live TV.
Carsen Holaday reports:
Neutrogena faces renewed backlash after Hayden Panettiere’s death
Panettiere's history of postpartum depression
Tuesday 18 August 2026 16:41 , Caitlin HornikHayden Panettiere spoke candidly about how she wishes she had known about the risk of postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya.
In an interview with E! News’ The Rundown, Panettiere shared how turning to alcohol to deal with postpartum depression made “everything worse”.
“I wish I knew about postpartum depression. I wish I knew to look out for it. I just thought there was something seriously wrong with me, so I thought, ‘Fireball will fix this – duh!’ and it didn’t. It does for a moment, but then it makes everything worse.”
The actor said she did not learn about postpartum depression before her pregnancy, which made the experience even more isolating.
“I wish somebody told me it’s OK if you birth your child and you’re not immediately like, ‘Oh my god, I love you more than anything in the entire world!’”
Michelle Rodriguez recalls working with Panettiere
Tuesday 18 August 2026 16:28 , Caitlin HornikRodriguez, who co-hosted the 2010 World Music Awards with Panettiere, was asked what she recalled about working with the late star at the Monday night red carpet for the 25th anniversary screening of The Fast and the Furious.
Rodriguez told Variety: “Her curious spirit and how happy and joyous she is, because that’s her memory, right?
“I’ve got to tell you, man, I just can’t stand how many young people are leaving us lately,” Rodriguez added. “It’s disheartening, and it’s making me think, ‘What’s going on?’ It’s not normal.”
Panettiere spoke about her relationship with her daughter, Kaya
Tuesday 18 August 2026 16:11 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere gave birth to her daughter with her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. She then gave Klitschko full custody of Kaya in 2018 amid her severe postpartum depression.
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I wanted to be a good mom,” she told People in 2022.
“And sometimes that means letting go.”
Panettiere added: “She has a beautiful life. She’s smart, she’s funny, and for whatever reason, she still loves me.”
Panettiere was days away from her 37th birthday
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:56 , Caitlin HornikHayden Panettiere was five days away from her 37th birthday when she died Sunday.
A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma.
Full autopsy report could take up to 8 weeks
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:45 , Caitlin HornikThe Greenville County Coroner’s Office told The Independent that the autopsy was completed Monday but that results were pending. However, “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”
It could also take up to eight weeks for the autopsy report to be updated with results. Toxicology results will also take weeks, the coroner’s office confirmed.
Panettiere recalled working on 'Malcolm in the Middle'
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:37 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere appeared on four episodes of the hit sitcom between 2003 and 2005 as Frankie Muniz’s titular character’s love interest: a blonde babysitter named Jessica.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2025, she said: “I remember the whole audition process. I only got the role because Bryan Cranston was directing. That is my true belief, because he was an actor. He looked at me and said, ‘You're so wrong for this. But we're going to make it work.’ That was the first time I had ever experienced someone really taking a chance on me.
“I loved being able to play a character that was so different from the way I knew people saw me.”
Frankie Muniz had 'an absolutely great time' working with Panettiere
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:24 , Caitlin HornikMuniz and Panettiere worked together on Malcolm in the Middle.
“Very sad to hear about Hayden. I got to work with her on many projects and always had an absolutely great time with her,” Muniz wrote on Instagram.
“I have so many amazing stories and memories with her. I hope she rests in peace.”
'I didn't get a chance to be a kid,' Panettiere said
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:11 , Caitlin HornikSpeaking to People in 2022 about her career as a child star, Panettiere said: “There are happy memories, but there was also a lot of trauma.
“Crying over and over again [for a scene], what does that do to a child’s mind, when they’re praised for feeling sad?”
“I didn’t get a chance to be a kid,” she continued.
“And when I was at school, I was bullied. The lunchroom was the bane of my existence. I was only about 12 when I had an identity crisis. I just didn’t know where I fit in.”
Panettiere became an unexpected champion for Ukraine after relationship with Wladimir Klitschko
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:00 , Caitlin HornikDespite the couple’s breakup, Panettiere remained a passionate advocate of Ukraine.
Alex Croft reports:
How Hayden Panettiere became a champion for Ukraine after Klitschko relationship
Panettiere spoke about the pressures of growing up in Hollywood
Tuesday 18 August 2026 14:57 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere was just 17 when she was cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC series Heroes.
She told People in 2024 about the pressures of growing up in the spotlight: “Having grown up in this industry, you’re terrified if you don’t look decent when you walk out the door.
“That started happening for me when I was 16, where you’re already at an age where you don’t feel great about your changing body — and you certainly don’t need grown men commenting on [your] insecurities.”
Bethany Joy Lenz pays tribute
Tuesday 18 August 2026 14:37 , Caitlin HornikLenz, who starred on the soap opera Guiding Light with a young Panettiere, penned an emotional tribute on Instagram.
“I dont understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real,” she wrote in part.
Panettiere's 'Nashville' co-star was in Greenville, SC hours before her death
Tuesday 18 August 2026 14:23 , Caitlin HornikCharles Esten shared a note in the comments section of his emotional tribute to his co-star Panettiere.
“A LAST NOTE: Patty and I were not only in Greenville, SC this past Friday night for one of my shows, we were actually in Judson Mills, itself (where the venue is located.),” Esten wrote.
“Alongside the horrific news of her passing, we have both been stunned to hear in news reports that Hayden had apparently arrived there at the same Judson Mills (the loft apartments, not the venue) the very next day.
“By then, (Saturday) our tour bus had taken us through the night to Wilmington, where we were setting up for my next show, oblivious to all that was to come.
“Such a strange coincidence. I just wish that it had actually put us there together at the same time. And that we somehow could have bumped into her. And got to hug her, and laugh in amazement with her.
“And tell her how much we love her again.”
'Nashville' co-star remembers Panettiere
Tuesday 18 August 2026 14:04 , Caitlin HornikCharles Esten played Deacon Claybourne on the hit ABC series Nashville and recalled the first time he met Panettiere in a heartfelt tribute.
“In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first NASHVILLE audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs. I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard,” Esten wrote in an Instagram caption.
“To my complete surprise, It was Hayden Paniettiere, who - in full Juliette Barnes mode - had been listening with her ear to the door. Instead of looking even a little bit caught, her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!’”
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Viola Davis mourns Hayden Panettiere: 'Beautiful phoenix’
Tuesday 18 August 2026 13:30 , Jacob StolworthyViola Davis has remembered Hayden Panettiere as an “old, wise soul” with “such a deep heart” after her death at 36.
Davis and Panettiere acted together twice, first in the 2006 drama The Architect, in which Panettiere played Christina alongside Davis as activist Tonya Neeley, and later in the 2016 courtroom drama Custody. In Custody, Davis played family court judge Martha Schulman while Panettiere portrayed lawyer Ally Fisher.
“What an amazing talent you were....so gifted,” she wrote on Instagram. She added that both she and her husband, Julius Tennon, “loved working with you”.
She continued: “I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered.
“Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”
