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.
An investigation is reportedly being conducted into Panettiere’s death involving Greenville police as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration after an incident report stated that her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, turned over a “bag of medication” to police.
On Friday, Panettiere’s ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko posted an emotional tribute on what would have been the late star’s 37th birthday. “You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten,” he wrote.
Panettiere was best-known for playing 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 (which she claimed cost her a sponsorship with skincare brand Neutrogena), 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’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson breaks silence
- Neutrogena responds after Hayden Panettiere’s death: ‘We made her feel unsupported’
- Wladimir Klitschko honors Panettiere on her 37th birthday
- Hayden Panettiere's cause of death remains unclear
- Panettiere’s mother says they were estranged because of ‘a toxic individual’
Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson breaks silence
04:00 , Shahana YasminBrian Hickerson has broken his silence following Hayden Panettiere’s death, issuing his first statement through his lawyer, Sloan Ellis.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Ellis said in a statement to TMZ. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
The statement added: “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Hickerson, who had an on-and-off relationship with Panettiere, was at the apartment when Panettiere was found unresponsive on Sunday, along with his brother Zach. He showed responding officers a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking, while authorities later said an autopsy found no signs of trauma.
The DEA has since joined the investigation, and Panettiere’s cause and manner of death remain pending.
Hickerson also has a history of domestic violence against Panettiere and pleaded no contest to two felony charges involving her in 2021.
Wladimir Klitschko pens emotional tribute on Hayden Panettiere's 37th birthday
15:54 , Caitlin HornikKlitschko and Panettiere welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
In a moving Instagram tribute, Klitschko wrote: “Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.
“I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support. At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.
“If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind.
“Love is a superpower. Use it.
“Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”
Panettiere's emotional journal entry about relationship with Brian Hickerson
15:26 , Caitlin HornikIn June, Panettiere shared a journal entry she had written reflecting on their relationship on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast.
“I realized that I was more afraid of being alone than being abused,” she said.
“In order to be around that behavior, it took me dulling my senses and numbing myself with substances in order to silence that rational voice in my head that was telling me exactly what was going on, and the many reasons why I needed to get myself out of this toxic relationship and as far away from this person as possible.”
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend was there when she died. Their history is complicated
Hayden Panettiere's former director spoke about working with late star
15:05 , Caitlin HornikGriff Furst directed Panettiere in A Breed Apart, which was released in May 2025.
He posted a video Wednesday speaking about his experience working with the star and rooting for her to “beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly herself.”
“A producer or director, no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation, you don’t have the proof, or the benefit of the time to verify it,” Furst said.
“You can adjust the schedule, you can collect internal reporting and you can assign a handler to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can.”
Furst added that after filming wrapped, he kept in touch with Panettiere’s team and “what eventually got determined was that she might need an intervention and I got asked to participate.”
“I said yes, and that intervention did not happen, at least not that I’m aware of, and I wasn’t leading the charge on that and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me,” Furst added.
Furst also spoke about Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who joined her on set while filming and who was also with her when she died despite their turbulent relationship.
“All I know about that is what we observed and wrote down at the time that it happened, with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson,” Furst said. “I wasn’t in South Carolina, I don’t know what happened, but what I will say is my opinion, and it’s about what I saw on my own set, somebody fighting to stay sober and who deserved better company around them than what I observed … I was very lucky to work with Hayden. I wish she was still here.”
Hayden Panettiere dead: Heroes and Nashville star dies aged 36
Hayden Panettiere’s friend shares her final text: ‘That was you in a nutshell’
14:38 , Caitlin HornikMusician Clayton Johnson has shared the final text Hayden Panettiere sent him, as he paid tribute to the actor.
Johnson, who shared a video of himself singing with Panettiere, wrote on Instagram: “More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen.” Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen, died aged 28 in 2023 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Johnson said the last message Panettiere sent him, a few weeks after their last phone call, was: “Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me.”
“That was you in a nutshell,” he wrote. “I’m grateful I got to know you, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories. Fly high, Hayden.”
Hayden Panettiere would have turned 37 today
14:12 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere was days shy of her 37th birthday when she died Sunday.
A cause of death is still being investigated.
She leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, shared with her ex-fiance, Wladimir Klitschko.
Hayden Panettiere's 'Nashville' co-star pays tribute
13:51 , Caitlin Hornik“Hayden was a special soul and a very deep river. If she trusted you she was completely unguarded, genuinely curious, generous and a complete goof ball. Spending time with her was always an adventure,” wrote Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Judith Hoag in an Instagram post.
“Hayden deserved so much better than she got. She was on the road to recovery and whatever happened in the end… I know she’s at peace now.
“I dearly hope our soul paths cross again in the eternal by and by.”
Hayden Panettiere was a passionate advocate of Ukraine
13:08 , Jacob StolworthyPanettiere’s daughter moved to Ukraine to live with her father, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018, when Russia had illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and separatist forces were fighting Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region.
When Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February 2022, Klitschko, whose brother Vitalii is the mayor of Kyiv and also a former boxing champion, enlisted in the army. Kaya, the outlet reported, was not in Ukraine from the early days of the war.
Panettiere posted repeated messages of solidarity with Ukraine on Instagram in the years that followed.
“I have personally witnessed the strength of the Ukrainian people who fought so hard for their independence and have continued to passionately defend their country over the years. What Putin is doing is an absolute disgrace!,” she wrote on Instagram shortly after the invasion.
“This horrific moment in history sends a terrifying message: the message that in this day and age, in year 2022, it’s okay to violate the rights of free people and allow autocrats like Putin to take whatever they please,” she added.
‘We made her feel unsupported’: Neutrogena responds after Hayden Panettiere’s death
12:47 , Jacob StolworthyNeutrogena has addressed criticism over its treatment of Hayden Panettiere, saying it understands that the actor felt “unsupported” during a difficult period in her life.
The skincare brand said in a statement on Thursday: “We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing. For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community.”
“We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time,” it continued. “This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be.”
Neutrogena vowed to make a “significant investment to a long-standing community health partner” to support women’s health causes and promised to share more details “when plans are in place.”
Panettiere wrote in her memoir that Neutrogena cancelled her long-standing contract in 2015 after she spoke publicly about her postpartum depression. In a May interview with Jay Shetty, she said: “Of all the things that they would fire me over, this is the last thing that I thought they would ever fire me for.”
Hayden Panettiere's younger brother died in 2023
11:24 , Jacob StolworthyHayden 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: 'I think a lot about what my life could have been like if I did that film'
10:49 , Jacob StolworthyA few years ago, during a conversation with her former agent, Hayden Panettiere discovered the truth about a situation that had always nagged at her. In 2000, when she was an 11-year-old child actor Panettiere was fired from David Fincher’s home invasion thriller Panic Room after Nicole Kidman left the project, due to an injury. Or so she was told.
In fact, Fincher had wanted Panettiere to stay on with Jodie Foster, who was replacing Kidman. But he’d asked her mother if Panettiere could cut her hair into a bob, in order to better match Foster. Panettiere’s mother refused.
“I was so out of the loop,” Panettiere recalled in an interview with The Independent in May. “And it was one of the harder things that I’ve experienced. I didn’t think it was fair. And I think a lot about what my life could have been like if I did that film. What parts could I have played? What person would I have been?”
She met Panic Room’s eventual child star, Kristen Stewart, at a friend’s birthday party days before the interview. “We talked about everything that happened, and she was so kind. I felt like, finally, I was able to get it off my chest and let it go.”
Hayden Panettiere's cause of death remains unclear
10:25 , Jacob StolworthyPolice in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers “responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at around 1:50 pm ET on Sunday (August 16). She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma. An investigation is ongoing.
Wladimir Klitschko breaks silence over ex-fiancée's death
09:55 , Jacob StolworthyWladimir Klitschko breaks silence over ex-fiancée's death
In 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”
‘Women need to know they’re not alone’: Hayden Panettiere on postpartum depression
09:30 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere opened up about her experience with postpartum depression in 2015, urging women to speak about the condition.
Appearing on Live! With Kelly and Michael in September that year, several months after the birth of her daughter Kaya, Panettiere said: “When they tell you about postpartum depression you think it’s, ‘I feel negative feelings toward my child, I want to injure my child, I want to hurt my child.’
“I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But You don’t realise how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on,” she said.
Panettiere said she wanted to speak publicly because “it’s something that needs to be talked about”. She added: “Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”
Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson was with her when she died. Their history is complicated
09:10 , Shahana YasminWhen Hayden Panettiere died this Sunday, the 36-year-old Heroes and Nashville star was in South Carolina with an on-and-off boyfriend she’d once described as her “abuser.”
Panettiere first started dating Brian Hickerson, an aspiring actor and real estate agent, in 2018. At the time, she had recently broken up with heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, who is the father of her daughter, Kaya.
In the early days of their courtship, Panettiere and Hickerson were photographed by paparazzi in Los Angeles attending film screenings and eating brunch with friends.
However, by the following year their relationship had taken a dark turn.
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend was there when she died. Their history is complicated
Hayden Panettiere was asked when she would ‘go off the rails’ at 18
08:50 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere was just 18 when she was asked by GQ when she expected to become the latest “screwed-up girl in Hollywood”, after her rise to fame on Heroes.
“Never, never. Cross our fingers,” Panettiere replied in the 2007 interview.
When the interviewer followed up by asking whether she could schedule rehab for her 21st birthday, she responded: “You can’t schedule rehab for me. And I don’t think you can schedule any DUIs. I think I’m going to be one of those boring girls.”
Her Heroes co-star Jack Coleman, who played her on-screen father, remembered the questions in a tribute following her death this week. He said Panettiere was “routinely asked obnoxious questions”, mostly variations of “when are you going to go off the rails?”, calling them “misogynistic provocations”.
Hayden Panettiere said she was ‘riddled with guilt’ after brother Jansen’s death
08:30 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere spoke openly about the guilt she carried after the sudden death of her younger brother Jansen, who died aged 28 in 2023 from a heart condition.
In an interview with E! News in May, Panettiere said she was still struggling with the loss three years later. “It’s all the time,” she said of her grief. “It just evolves, especially with a sibling and being the older sibling. You’re just riddled with guilt that you didn’t do your job.”
“I miss him all the time. I didn’t think I would have to do life without him, but I’m grateful that I had the time I had with him,” she added.
What parent would actually wish fame on their own child?
08:10 , Shahana YasminReading about Hayden Panettiere’s tragic quest to outrun her child stardom, it’s clear to me that Hollywood has created a market that urgently needs abolishing, says Claire Cohen
What parent would actually wish fame on their own child?
Hayden Panettiere said fame could ‘turn your life upside down’ in 2007 interview
07:30 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere spoke about the pressures facing young women in Hollywood and the relentless attention of the paparazzi when she was just 18.
Asked about the years since Heroes had made her famous, Panettiere told GQ in 2007: “This business tends to turn your life upside down. For some strange reason, I’ve become one of the targets of the paparazzi. Things get crazy. You try and hold on to that little part of normal that you can.”
On whether the media was effectively pushing young women towards public meltdowns, she pointed to Britney Spears, who was facing intense scrutiny at the time, saying: “That girl was the epitome of beauty when I was younger. And we built her up and just ripped her down, put every aspect of her life under a microscope.”
She added: “Probably made 90 per cent of the stuff up along the way. I can’t even imagine if I had it like she does. She’s someone that I’m rooting for, and I hope she can make that comeback.”
Panettiere’s Heroes co-star Jack Coleman recently recalled the intense scrutiny she faced as a teenager, saying in his tribute to her that she had been “hunted” by paparazzi.
“They were predatory,” Coleman wrote. “No one, especially a teenager, should be targeted that way.”
Neutrogena breaks silence after backlash
07:05 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere’s death prompted the actor’s previous comments about how she was “fired” from being the face of the brand for speaking out about her postpartum depression to resurface.
“We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing,” the company said in a statement posted to its social media accounts. “For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community.”
“We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time. This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be,” the statement continued.
Read more:
Neutrogena breaks silence following backlash after Hayden Panettiere’s death
Hayden Panettiere said she was focused on ‘finding meaning in life’ months before her death
06:50 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere spoke about finding purpose in her life and looking towards new creative opportunities just months before her death.
“I know that if I surround myself with positive people, I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to,” she told The Independent in May, and said she wanted to write and produce, and release a jewellery line.
“I’ve made my share of mistakes, I’ve fallen on my face, but I’ve always stood up again and dusted myself off.”
She added: “I’ve got plenty of issues, but finding meaning in life isn’t one of them.”
Panettiere said creativity had provided a “lifeline” and given her purpose when she needed it most.
Hayden Panettiere: ‘My mom wasn’t interested in having a normal relationship with me’
‘Bursting with brilliance’: Hayden Panettiere remembered by her biggest co-stars
06:40 , Jacob StolworthyHayden Panettiere has been remembered by actors she worked with throughout her career.
Connie Britton, who played Rayna Jaymes opposite Panettiere’s Juliette Barnes on Nashville, shared photos of the pair and wrote: “This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.”
Esten recalled meeting Panettiere when he auditioned for Nashville, remembering how she listened outside the audition room before surprising him with a smile and telling him: “That was so good!!”
Jack Coleman, who played Claire Bennet’s father on Heroes, remembered Panettiere as a “prodigious talent” and said: “She was a tiny colossus who loved to laugh.” Masi Oka, who played Hiro Nakamura, described her as possessing a “beautiful spirit” and “immense talent”.
Cattrall, who played Panettiere’s mother in Ice Princess, wrote simply: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden. Gone far too soon.”
Viola Davis, who worked with Panettiere on The Architect and Custody, remembered her as “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart”.
Hayden Panettiere would have celebrated her 37th birthday today
06:30 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere would have turned 37 today, just five days after the actor died suddenly at the age of 36.
Panettiere was born on 21 August 1989 and died on 16 August in South Carolina. She was said to have been looking forward to spending her birthday with her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, in Germany.
A source close to the actor told Page Six that she had been “so excited to see her” and had been telling people how much she was looking forward to spending time with her daughter.
Panettiere's memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning was published in May, in which she wrote openly about her childhood in Hollywood, addiction, postpartum depression, abusive relationships, and the loss of custody of Kaya.
The heartbreaking family struggles that shaped Hayden Panettiere’s life off screen
06:10 , Shahana YasminThe ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ star, who has tragically died aged 36, was bracingly honest about her experiences of familial estrangement, losing custody of her daughter and the depression that followed the sudden death of her younger brother, writes Katie Rosseinsky
The heartbreaking family struggles that shaped Hayden Panettiere’s life off screen
Hayden Panettiere was a passionate advocate of Ukraine
05:50 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere’s daughter moved to Ukraine to live with her father, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018, when Russia had illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and separatist forces were fighting Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region.
When Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February 2022, Klitschko, whose brother Vitalii is the mayor of Kyiv and also a former boxing champion, enlisted in the army. Kaya, the outlet reported, was not in Ukraine from the early days of the war.
Panettiere posted repeated messages of solidarity with Ukraine on Instagram in the years that followed.
“I have personally witnessed the strength of the Ukrainian people who fought so hard for their independence and have continued to passionately defend their country over the years. What Putin is doing is an absolute disgrace!,” she wrote on Instagram shortly after the invasion.
“This horrific moment in history sends a terrifying message: the message that in this day and age, in year 2022, it’s okay to violate the rights of free people and allow autocrats like Putin to take whatever they please,” she added.
Ice Princess director remembers Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg
04:50 , Caitlin HornikTim 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.”
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Disney fans remember beloved film after Hayden Panettiere dies a year on from co-star
Director says Hayden Panettiere was ‘fighting to stay sober’ before her death
04:30 , Shahana YasminDirector Griff Furst has claimed Hayden Panettiere was “fighting to stay sober” while filming his 2025 movie A Breed Apart and he was asked to participate in an intervention.
“I was rooting for Hayden to beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly,” Furst said in an Instagram video. He added that “no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation”, a producer or director can’t do much besides adjusting the schedule or getting a handler “to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can”.
He said he remained in contact with Panettiere’s team during filming, which led to him being asked to join the proposed intervention.
“I was asked to participate, and I said yes,” Furst claimed. “That intervention did not happen, at least not that I am aware of. I wasn’t leading the charge on it. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me.”
Furst previously said Panettiere was accompanied by her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson on the set and that she “deserved better company” around her.
Hayden Panettiere’s mother says they were estranged because of ‘a toxic individual’
04:15 , Shahana YasminHayden Panettiere’s mother Lesley Vogel has said her estrangement from her daughter “was not for lack of care or love”, but blamed “the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death”.
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Vogel said Panettiere “unfortunately became involved with the wrong person” and that her family had tried to remove the person from her life.
“Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love,” Vogel said. “Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.”
Vogel did not name Brian Hickerson in her latest statement, but she previously identified him, 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.”
Hickerson has denied involvement in her death through his lawyer, who said police had found no signs of foul play and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Hayden Panettiere's father’s statement in full
04:05 , Caitlin HornikAlan “Skip” Panettiere issued the following statement to ABC News regarding the death of his daughter, Hayden Panettiere.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement said.
“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.”
He then asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Wladimir Klitschko 'deeply saddened' over ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere's death
02:05 , Caitlin HornikFormer world heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko has shared a statement on the death of his ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere, with whom he has a daughter.
He wrote underneath a family photo: “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…
He extended his “deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today”, adding: “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…”
Hayden Panettiere's younger brother died in 2023
01:05 , Caitlin HornikHayden 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's personal career highlight
Friday 21 August 2026 00:05 , Caitlin HornikHayden Panettiere said the 2000 film Remember the Titans was her favorite to shoot.
“This movie was my favorite movie to film, what an incredible time in my life,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2013.
In the Denzel Washington film, she played Sheryl Yoast, the daughter of assistant high school football coach Bill Yoast, played by Will Patton.
“That's just pure me that look. That is like from, oh my gosh - I mean, I was 10 years old. I had such cute boys around me, I was surrounded by the cutest boys. Kate Bosworth was like my big sister, was close to everyone,” she continued.
“I mean, you have no idea how many times in my life I have wished and prayed - if I had wished to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to Remember the Titans.”
Hayden Panettiere's mother speaks again after backlash over initial comments
Thursday 20 August 2026 23:31 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke out again following the backlash over her initial statement regarding her daughter’s death.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Vogel said: “Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love. It was due to the involvement of a toxic individual who I believe led to her death.
“Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful,” she continued.
“I hope all remember Hayden for the beautiful human being inside her and her gift to the world from her time on this earth,” she said. “My heart is with you, Hayden. Mama.”
Hayden Panettiere's former director spoke about working with late star
Thursday 20 August 2026 23:05 , Caitlin HornikGriff Furst directed Panettiere in A Breed Apart, which was released in May 2025.
He posted a video Wednesday speaking about his experience working with the star and rooting for her to “beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly herself.”
“A producer or director, no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation, you don’t have the proof, or the benefit of the time to verify it,” Furst said.
“You can adjust the schedule, you can collect internal reporting and you can assign a handler to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can.”
Furst added that after filming wrapped, he kept in touch with Panettiere’s team and “what eventually got determined was that she might need an intervention and I got asked to participate.”
“I said yes, and that intervention did not happen, at least not that I’m aware of, and I wasn’t leading the charge on that and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me,” Furst added.
Furst also spoke about Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who joined her on set while filming and who was also with her when she died despite their turbulent relationship.
“All I know about that is what we observed and wrote down at the time that it happened, with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson,” Furst said. “I wasn’t in South Carolina, I don’t know what happened, but what I will say is my opinion, and it’s about what I saw on my own set, somebody fighting to stay sober and who deserved better company around them than what I observed … I was very lucky to work with Hayden. I wish she was still here.”
Panettiere's estranged mother claims narcotics investigator has joined investigation
Thursday 20 August 2026 22:05 , Caitlin HornikSpeaking Wednesday to NBC News, Vogel claimed that a narcotics investigator has joined the investigation into Panettiere’s death.
It was also reported Wednesday that the U.S. DEA has joined Greenville, South Carolina police in investigating.
Neutrogena breaks silence after backlash
Thursday 20 August 2026 21:52 , Caitlin HornikPanettiere was found dead Sunday at age 36, prompting the actor’s previous comments about how she was “fired” from being the face of the brand for speaking out about her postpartum depression to resurface
“We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing,” the company said in a statement posted to its social media accounts. “For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community.”
“We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time. This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be,” the statement continued.
Hayden Panettiere’s mom slammed over ‘unseemly’ comments on daughter’s death
Thursday 20 August 2026 21:46 , Caitlin HornikSeveral celebrities have responded to comments made by Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, following the death of her daughter.
The Heroes star openly spoke about her strained relationship with her mother, who was Panettiere’s manager when she rose to fame as a child star. The two were estranged at the time of Panettiere’s death, and the actor had told podcaster Jay Shetty in May that Vogel “didn’t care to have a relationship with me.”
Speaking to NBC News following Panettiere’s death, Vogel said: “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.
Several celebrities, including Gayle King and Holly Robinson Peete, have since addressed Vogel’s comments. Read on:
Hayden Panettiere’s mom slammed over ‘unseemly’ comments on daughter’s death
Neutrogena stock tumbles as fans vow to boycott after Panettiere death
Thursday 20 August 2026 21:15 , Caitlin HornikNeutrogena is facing a boycott and swarms of social media backlash over a story from Panettiere that has resurfaced after her sudden death at 36.
In 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.
Now, the renewed backlash against Neutrogena and calls for a boycott have affected the brand’s stock. The New York Post reported Tuesday that stock prices for Kenvue Inc. — Neutrogena’s parent company which also owns Tylenol, Band-Aid and Aveeno — fell over two percent Monday due. The stock appeared to have begun recovering by Wednesday morning.
Carsen Holaday reports:
Neutrogena stock tumbles as fans vow to boycott after Hayden Panettiere death
Brian Hickerson dealt legal blow in Panettiere case days before star's death
Thursday 20 August 2026 21:06 , Caitlin HornikBrian Hickerson, Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, was denied a request to expunge and downgrade his previous felony charges to misdemeanors days before the Heroes star’s death.
The charges stemmed from several alleged incidents involving Panettiere between May 2019 and January 2020.
Following his July 2020 arrest, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. He was hit with an eight-count criminal indictment in April 2021.
Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in jail in 2021, along with four years of probation, 52 mandatory domestic violence classes, and a five-year restraining order.
Page Six reported that Hickerson’s request was denied during an August 13 court hearing, despite arguing that the terms of his probation had been met. Hickerson previously made the same request in July 2025, which was also denied.
Hickerson was with Panettiere at the time of her death.
Cops spotted at Hickerson family home days after Panettiere's death
Thursday 20 August 2026 20:58 , Caitlin HornikPolice have been spotted at a Hickerson family residence about five miles from where Panettiere died Sunday.
Her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were both with her when she died.
Now, Page Six reported Wednesday that cops were seen outside a home belonging to the Hickerson brothers’ grandmother.
A pair of officers were seen around 8:20 a.m. ET knocking on front and side doors of the residence. They returned about 90 minutes later to “conduct a welfare check,” the outlet reported.
However, it was not clear who the intended target of the welfare check was.
The Independent has contacted the Greenville Police Department for more information.
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”
