Hayden Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence on her death at 36 with an emotional statement.
An “acquaintance” of the Heroes and Nashville actor alerted police to an “unresponsive female” at a home in South Carolina, thought to be an Airbnb, at 1:51pm on Sunday, TMZ reported.
Ukrainian professional boxer Klitschko, 50, who shares daughter Kaya, 11, with his former partner of nine years, 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…”
Officials were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in dispatch audio obtained by People. Panettiere’s representative told the outlet: “I don’t have any more information at this time, but it’s looking as though that is the case.”
Narcan, a brand of Naloxene that can be used to counter the effects of an opioid overdose, was reportedly found at the apartment, with the device used to administer it on a mattress. It is not known if the nasal spray was used in an attempt to revive Panettiere.
Paramedics reportedly tried to resuscitate Panettiere using "advanced cardiac life support”, using special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking and did chest compressions on the former child star. She was pronounced dead at 2:32pm, according to TMZ.
Panettiere had flown south from Los Angeles the day before her death with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, according to reports.
There are “no signs of foul play” and no cause of death has been announced. The Greenville County coroner said there were “no signs of trauma”.
Follow the latest updates below....
Key Points
- Hayden's ex Wladimir Klitschko's emotional statement in full
- Overdose medication 'found' at Hayden's apartment
- Coroner's verdict: 'No signs of trauma'
- Hayden's team speaks out on 'overdose' claims
- Hayden 'hid relationship with Brian Hickerson for her career'
Hayden's ex Wladimir Klitschko's emotional statement in full
08:47 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s professional boxer ex Wladimir Klitschko, who shares daughter Kaya, 11, with the star, shared a heartbreaking statement on Instagram after her death.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief…” he wrote.
“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 added: “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…”
Hayden and Wladimir's Klitschko's romance in pictures
11:20 , Ekin Karasin
Hayden was 'racked with guilt' over giving up custody of daughter
10:50 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere was reportedly struggling with giving up full custody of her daughter Kaya, 11, before her death.
The actor signed over custody of her then three-year-old daughter to her boxer ex, Wladimir Klitschko, while she overcame alcohol addiction.
A source told the Daily Mail on Monday: “Hayden's been racked with guilt about not being the mother she wanted for her child and allowing her ex-fiancé to bring up Kaya.
“She didn't believe she was in the right mental state to be a good mother at the time. It bothered her greatly.”
Klitschko, who lives in Ukraine, sued her for full custody of Kaya when she was three.
Discussing handing over full custody, she previously said: "It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make.
"I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mom she needed me to be."
The actor added that they were “so connected” now and talk regularly.
"I love my daughter, and I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her.”
Hayden on alcoholism and post-partum depression
10:49 , Ekin Karasin
Paris Hilton: 'It's impossible to believe she's gone'
10:36 , Ekin Karasin
Director of Hayden's final film: 'I'll miss you'
10:20 , Ekin Karasin
The director of Sleepwalker, the last film Panettiere appeared in, said he is “completely devastated” by her death.
Panettiere played a mum haunted by the loss of her daughter in a car accident in the psychological thriller released in January.
Director Brandon Auman said she "taught me so much on set" and that "the personal stories you shared with me about growing up in the industry were often profound, surreal and amazing".
"Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you, Hayden," he added in a post on Instagram.
Nashville star: 'Her inner demons were too much to bear'
10:00 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Sylvia Jefferies said she was “shattered” by the star’s death.
The 57-year-old played Jolene Barnes, mother to Panettiere's character Juliette, on the hit ABC country music drama.
Hayden was on 'downward swing' due to lull in career
09:45 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere was reportedly “desperate” to land another TV show after her musical drama Nashville ended in 2018 - but struggled to get another role.
“Although she was considered a TV star, she still had to audition for big TV projects. She often struggled to get past the audition stage,” a source told the Daily Mail on Monday.
They added: “Hayden was on a downward swing recently due to lack of decent roles.”
Her last appearance was in Sleepwalker, a psychological thriller released in January this year, in which she played a mother haunted by the death of her daughter.
Hayden was 'still tortured' over her brother's death
09:35 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere suffered a devastating loss when her brother Jansen died aged 28 in 2023.
Three years on, the actor was “still tortured” by the devastating tragedy, sources told the Daily Mail on Monday.
“She was still tortured by her brother's death,” the insider said.
“Hayden and Jansen were very close. When he had a problem, she'd be the first person he'd turn to.”
Former child star Jansen, who was five years her junior, died from aortic valve complications and an enlarged heart, which had never been diagnosed.
Panettiere was promoting Scream VI at the time and struggled with talking about her brother’s death.
In an interview in September 2024, the actress said that she would “always be heartbroken about” Jansen’s death and “never be able to get over it”.
Months later, on the anniversary of his death, she wrote on Instagram: “I pray you’re in a beautiful place J. That you’re at peace and that when all is said and done… I’ll see you again. Rest easy brother.”
Connie Britton: 'I have no words, just heartbreak'
09:15 , Ekin Karasin
Hollywood star Connie Britton said she has “has no words” after the death of Panettiere, who she hailed as “bursting with brilliance”.
The Emmy-nominated actress, who appeared alongside Panettiere in musical drama Nashville for nearly five years, shared images of her on set with her former co-star.
“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” she wrote.
The 59-year-old actress, also known for Friday Night Lights and American Horror Story, continued: “I have no words for this sad song.
“Just heartbreak.”
“I love you girl. Sleep easy now,” she added, accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Hayden suffered 'secret pain' after freak set injury
08:38 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere was thrown off of a zebra while filming the movie Racing Stripes in South Africa in 2005.
In May this year, she told Women's Health magazine it had left her temporarily paralyzed.
The fall caused two vertebrae to be “pushed into [her] neck”.
“I woke up and felt nothing but pins and needles from my waist down… I wasn't able to bend my toes, lift my foot at all. No one was able to give me a solid answer,” she said.
“I was sitting there going: ‘Oh my God, am I going to be paralyzed for the rest of my life?’”
She “had nerve issues that caused trauma in her leg” and had complained of back pain in the past year, a source told the Daily Mail on Monday.
“But that was a while ago,” the insider added.
In March, Panettiere was seen on crutches at Los Angeles International Airport and explained that she was suffering from “some pinched nerves in my lower back”.
Hayden's heartbreaking final text to singer friend
08:30 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s poignant final text to her friend, country musician Clayton Johnson, has been revealed.
The Nashville star spoke with the former Bachelorette star in the weeks leading up to her death.
Johnson wrote on Instagram: "It’s been a couple of weeks since our last phone call, but the last thing you ever texted me was, 'Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me.’”
He shared a video himself and Panettiere singing his 2025 single Never Have To Say.
"That was you in a nutshell," he continued. "I’m grateful I got to know you, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories."
Johnson - who previously dated Lana Del Rey - reflected on how Panettiere’s death came three years after her 28-year-old brother Jansen’s death.
I spent last night trying to process, to try to find the right words, but there really aren’t any," he penned.
"More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen. Fly high, Hayden.”
Hayden 'hid relationship with Brian Hickerson'
08:20 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere and Brian Hickerson reportedly rekindled their romance after they split in 2022 - but kept it quiet in order to protect her career.
A source close to Hickerson told TMZ the couple was together while she was promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in the months before her death.
The pair reportedly flew together to south Carolina from Los Angeles the day before she died.
Panettiere’s team reportedly felt their alleged relationship was “bad for business” while she was promoting her book.
The TV star - who was estranged from her mother - was understood to have grown very close to Hickerson’s family in recent years.
A separate source claimed the pair was seen together multiple times this year in Los Angeles and south Carolina.
Coroner's verdict: 'No signs of trauma'
07:59 , Ekin Karasin
The Greenville County coroner said there were “no signs of trauma” in Panettiere’s death.
“An autopsy was completed today. At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the coroner said on Monday.
“The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”
Overdose medication 'found' at Hayden's apartment
07:58 , Ekin Karasin
The opioid overdose medication Narcan was reportedly found at the apartment Panettiere was found dead in.
Narcan, a brand of Naloxene that can be used to counter the effects of an opioid overdose, was reportedly found at the apartment, TMZ reported.
The device used to administer it was reportedly on a mattress.
It is not known if the nasal spray was used in an attempt to revive Panettiere.
Two ambulances were reportedly called to the residence, seemingly suggesting there was more than one person “in distress,” the outlet noted.
Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis pays tribute to her former co-star Hayden Panettiere
Monday 17 August 2026 19:30 , Megan Howe
"What an amazing talent you were... so gifted," Davis wrote on Instagram, describing Panettiere as an "old, wise soul with such a deep heart".
"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," added Davis.
The Oscar-winning actress starred alongside Panettiere in The Architect in 2006 and Custody from 2016.
"Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden," she added.
Top 10 credits of Hayden's career
Monday 17 August 2026 19:15 , Megan Howe
Hayden Panettiere’s career spanned over three decades, beginning as a child star in daytime soap operas, transitioning into major Hollywood feature films as an adult, she also lent her voice to prominent animated movies and video games.
Here’s a list of some of her top credits:
• Nashville (2012-2018)
• Heroes (2006–2010)
• Remember the Titans (2000)
• Scream 4 & Scream VI (2011, 2023)
• A Bug’s Life (1998)
• Until Dawn (2015 / 2024 Remake)
• Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
• Ice Princess (2005)
• Kingdom Hearts Series (2002–2012)
• Ally McBeal (2002)
In full: Police statement in relation to Hayden's death
Monday 17 August 2026 19:00 , Megan Howe
A statement from Greenville police department said: “On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville police department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The case is under investigation by the Greenville police department in conjunction with the Greenville county coroner’s office.
“The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
“An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
Inside Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko's nine-year on-off relationship
Monday 17 August 2026 18:42 , Megan Howe
The world of showbiz has been left in shock at the sudden death of Hayden Panettiere at the age of 36.
The tragic passing of the American actress, best known for her work on Heroes and Nashville, has been confirmed by her family.
Panettiere, who earlier this year opened up about struggling with alcoholism, post-partum depression and abusive relationships in her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, is survived by her 11-year-old daughter Kaya Klitschko.
Kaya is also the daughter of Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who Panettiere met at a book launch party in 2009.
Inside Hayden Panattiere and Wladimir Klitschko's nine-year-long relationship
'No signs of foul play' relating to Hayden's death
Monday 17 August 2026 18:18 , Megan Howe
There were “no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances” relating to Heroes and Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere’s death, police said.
Panettiere, who died on Sunday aged 36, was found in her home by police in Greenville, South Carolina.
Officers responded to a call made by an acquaintance reporting that the actress was “unresponsive” and in “cardiac arrest”.
A post-mortem examination was completed by the Greenville County coroner’s office which found that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death”.
The cause and manner of death have not been confirmed.
Hayden Panettiere spoke hopefully of future in final interview
Monday 17 August 2026 17:34 , Isobel Lewis
Back in May, the Heroes star shared her optimism for the future while appearing on Jay Shetty’s podcast.
“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” the former child star said. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened,” she said. “I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”
This would go on to be the last interview with Panettiere released before her death.
Hayden Panettiere said she would 'never get over' younger brother's death
Monday 17 August 2026 16:56 , Isobel Lewis
In 2023, three-and-a-half years before her death, Panettiere suffered a devastating loss when her brother Jansen died aged 28.
Former child star Jansen, who was five years her junior, died from aortic valve complications and an enlarged heart, which had never been diagnosed.
Panettiere was promoting Scream VI at the time and struggled with talking about her brother’s death.
In an interview in September 2024, the actress said that she would “always be heartbroken about” Jansen’s death and “never be able to get over it”.
Months later, on the anniversary of his death, she wrote on Instagram: “I pray you’re in a beautiful place J. That you’re at peace and that when all is said and done… I’ll see you again. Rest easy brother.”
Scream co-stars pay tribute
Monday 17 August 2026 16:26 , Isobel Lewis
More celebrity tributes are pouring in for Hayden Panettiere, including from her Scream franchise co-stars.
Jenna Ortega, who starred alongside Hayden in the 2022 Scream remake and Scream VI, shared a photo of young Panettiere to her Instagram Story and wrote: “This is such a devastating loss. Rest well.”
Her former co-star Melissa Barrera posted a broken-heart emoji, followed by the words: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.”
Hayden shows off her singing skills as Nashville character
Monday 17 August 2026 15:50 , Ekin Karasin
Hayden was writing a TV show before her death
Monday 17 August 2026 15:30 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere revealed she was “trying her hand” at writing her own TV series, in a May interview with E! News.
The star, who took a hiatus from acting from 2018 to 2023, said: “I needed that break that I finally gave myself after so many years.
“But I also realized that idle minds are the devil's playground, and that is very true for me.
“I’m currently trying my hand at writing a show.”
Hayden's team speaks out on 'overdose' claims
Monday 17 August 2026 15:10 , Ekin Karasin
Officials were heard discussing a suspected “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in the 911 dispatch audio obtained by People.
Her representative told the outlet: “I don’t have any more information at this time, but it’s looking as though that is the case.”
Emergency services race to the scene
Monday 17 August 2026 14:48 , Ekin Karasin
The fire department and coroner's office raced to the scene where Panettiere died in south Carolina, in photos obtained by TMZ.
A fire truck and multiple ambulances were seen outside the Greenville residence where she died.
The Greenville County coroner's truck was also spotted in front of the same building.
Hayden's dolphin and whale hunting activism
Monday 17 August 2026 14:15 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere was a passionate advocate for animal rights and protested against dolphin hunting and commercial whaling.
Just as she was finding fame on Heroes, she joined a group of activist to protest the practice of an annual mass slaughtering of dolphins in the bay of the small Japanese town Taiji.
She was seen sobbing after witnessing their deaths in footage of the protests, captured in the Oscar-winning documentary, The Cove.
Panettiere also led a rally on Capitol Hill in Washington DC against commercial whaling when she was a teenager, arguing: "Dolphins and whales are some of the most contaminated animals on the planet, and like canaries in a coal mine they are telling us that something is seriously wrong with our oceans.”
Kelly Osbourne: 'She meant so much to me'
Monday 17 August 2026 14:00 , Ekin Karasin
Kelly Osbourne said her “heart grieves” for “sweet princess” Panettiere in a devastating tribute to her friend.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of someone who meant so much to me,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
"We understood each other in a way few truly can — recognizing how difficult it is to grow up in the spotlight, and how isolating it can feel even when surrounded by so many people."
Osbourne, whose rocker father Ozzy died last summer, added: “My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me. I will never forget you, Hayden, and I will always believe you deserved better.
“Rest in peace, sweet princess. You will never be forgotten.
Disney fans distraught as Hayden dies one year after co-star
Monday 17 August 2026 13:42 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s death comes one year after the passing of her co-star, Michelle Trachtenberg.
Trachtenberg died aged 39 in February 2025.
The pair had played teenage figure skaters in the 2005 Disney film, Ice Princess.
More than 20 years later, Disney fans mourned the loss of both stars on social media, with one writing: “Both ice princesses are gone.”
Hayden on 'out of control' opioid addiction
Monday 17 August 2026 13:26 , Ekin Karasin
The star has been vocal about her opioid addiction, revealing she was just 15 when she was first offered drugs.
The actor said she was given “happy pills” to make her “peppy” before red carpet interviews.
“I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction,” she told People in 2022.
Panettiere said she stayed off drugs and drinking while filming but “things kept getting out of control” away from the set.
“As I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn’t live without,” she said.
She got sober after an eight-month stint in rehab in 2020.
Hayden reflects on life and healing two months before death
Monday 17 August 2026 13:00 , Ekin Karasin
Hayden's relationship with her father Skip
Monday 17 August 2026 12:21 , Ekin Karasin
While Panettiere was estranged from her mother Lesley Vogel, she had a positive relationship with her father, Skip.
She gave an update on their sweet bond in May.
“My dad and I have a great relationship,” the TV star told US Weekly.
“I actually went and lived with him and my step mom for a while, where I was born and raised in Rockland County, and felt like being at home regrounded me.
“Being around family reminded me of who I am at my core.”
911 call details revealed
Monday 17 August 2026 12:04 , Ekin Karasin
An “acquaintance” of the actor alerted police to an “unresponsive female” who was in “cardiac arrest” at a home in South Carolina at 1:51 pm on Sunday, TMZ reported.
Officials were heard discussing an “overdose” in dispatch audio obtained by the outlet.
Police and emergency medical services quickly responded and paramedics tried to resuscitate Panettiere using "advanced cardiac life support,” according to the outlet.
Paramedics used special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking and did chest compressions on the former child star. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 pm.
Heroes writer: 'Hayden was more than an actress'
Monday 17 August 2026 12:00 , Ekin Karasin
Bryan Fuller, who wrote on Heroes’ first series, said it was “an honour and an inspiration” to create Panettiere’s cheerleader character.
The writer behind Pushing Daisies and Hannibal penned: “Hayden was more than an actress, she was a muse.
“Wise beyond her years and already saddled with so much of a life, she left an indelible mark on me as a writer and a storyteller. Incredibly sad news.”
'We join in mourning'
Monday 17 August 2026 11:40 , Ekin Karasin
Police share statement
Monday 17 August 2026 11:35 , Ekin Karasin
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers “responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at around 1:50 pm ET on Sunday”.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” they said in a statement.
They gave no cause of death.
“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call,” police added.
Hayden on feeling 'joy' after rehab stint
Monday 17 August 2026 11:24 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere previously reflected on her eight-month stint in a rehab facility for alcohol addiction in 2020.
“Two weeks in, I started to feel calm. I liked myself. What a revelation,” she penned in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
“Two weeks later, I laughed. Not because of someone else whose approval I craved, but because of something I thought was funny. That laugh was all mine, and no one could take it from me.”
By the three-month mark, she felt happier, writing: “Joy was a million times better than any drug,” she writes.
When she left rehab in 2021, she felt “more clear-headed than I'd ever been.”
“The sun seemed brighter, the sky looked bluer, and all around me, I could hear the hum of creatures doing the hard work of being alive,” she wrote.
One Tree Hill star 'crushed' by Hayden's death
Monday 17 August 2026 11:17 , Ekin Karasin
One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy-Lenz, who had known Panettiere since they were young, said she was "crushed" by her death.
Sharing photos of them together on Instagram, she wrote: "I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals.
"Long, unruly curls trailing behind her. She knew her lines and everyone else's. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I'd ever seen on camera. And she'd sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play."
She added: "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."
Hayden's relationship with her estranged mother
Monday 17 August 2026 11:07 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere had a turbulent relationship with her mother, former soap star Lesley Vogel.
She began working when she was just eight months old and Vogel steered her career as a child star.
“Everything was business,” the actress told Jay Shetty in May. “I became the confidant and the assistant and the therapist and the shoulder to cry on and everything but her child.”
She severed their professional relationship when she was 19.
“I said to her, ‘I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom,’” Panettiere recalled.
“I remember being hopeful, but I also wasn’t expecting the reaction that I got, which was, ‘You owe me.’ And that’s all she said. And she walked out.”
Panettiere went on: “It was disappointing to find out that it was money.
“The fact that she didn’t care to have a relationship with me was a tough pill to swallow.”
Vogel spoke out after Panettiere published her memoir, saying: “After 20 years of trauma, chaos, addictions [and] accusations, I felt I had no other option but to choose no contact.
“There will forever be a lingering hope that she will find her own path to inner peace."
Hayden's critically-acclaimed turn in Nashville
Monday 17 August 2026 10:55 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere scored two Golden Globe nominations playing emerging country singer Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville.
She starred alongside Connie Britton in the show and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 and 2014.
Panettiere lent her own vocals to 11 songs from the series, including Undermine, Love Like Mine, and Telescope.
Viola Davis: 'An old, wise soul with such a deep heart'
Monday 17 August 2026 10:32 , Ekin Karasin
Viola Davis called her friend and former co-star Panettiere a “phoenix rising from the ashes” in an emotional tribute on Instagram
Davis, who worked with Panettiere in The Architect (2006) and Custody (2016), said she was an “old, wise soul with such a deep heart,” and added that she “wished the world had more time with you”.
'I have a lot more life left to live'
Monday 17 August 2026 10:26 , Ekin Karasin
Three months before her death, Panettiere gave a heartfelt interview on Jay Shetty’s podcast.
She was promoting her deeply personal memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, which chronicled her addiction and mental health issues, as well as abuse, family loss and her road to recovery.
“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” Panettiere said.
“I’ve closed one door and another door is opened… I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”
Hayden's tearful interview weeks before her death
Monday 17 August 2026 10:15 , Ekin Karasin
Hayden and Wladimir's on-off relationship
Monday 17 August 2026 10:05 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere and boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko hit it off at a book launch party in 2008 held by mutual friends when she was 19.
With both parties travelling for work and Klitschko often based in Ukraine, the long distance ended up playing a role in the couple splitting in 2011, only to rekindle things two years later.
In an interview at the time, former child star Panettiere said that the second round of dating the athlete was "the 2.0 version", and said that "it wouldn't shock" her if Klitschko was the father of her future children.
The pair became engaged in October 2013, with Panettiere welcoming their daughter Kaya in December 2014.
When they split years later, the couple co-parented and in 2018 Panettiere gave full custody of Kaya to Klitschko.
'No signs of foul play'
Monday 17 August 2026 09:55 , Ekin Karasin
Police have said there were “no signs of foul play” surrounding Panettiere’s death.
Detectives responded to a 911 call from an “acquaintance” of Panettiere’s on Saturday afternoon, the Daily Mail reported.
She was described as “unresponsive” at the scene.
Hayden the cheerleader
Monday 17 August 2026 09:45 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere shot to fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett in the superhero drama Heroes, which premiered in 2006.
The series, created by Tim Kring, followed a group of people with superpowers as they’re hunted by an killer named Sylar (Zachary Quinto), who wants to steal their abilities.
The catchphrase “save the cheerleader, save the world” was synonymous with the show.
Panettiere appeared in Heroes for four series until 2010 alongside Milo Ventimiglia, whom she dated for two years.
Other stars included Masi Oka, Adrian Pasdar, Ali Larter and Greg Grunberg.
Early life in pictures
Monday 17 August 2026 09:35 , Ekin Karasin
Heartbreaking final interview: 'I never stopped choosing my daughter'
Monday 17 August 2026 09:18 , Ekin Karasin
Just weeks before her death, Panettiere spoke with Momé magazine for a cover story published July 21 in an interview titled “Hayden Panettiere Never Stopped Choosing Her Daughter”.
Panettiere recalled the horror of losing a significant amount of blood after Kaya’s birth, requiring seven transfusions and three hours of surgery.
She said she felt “empty” after the birth, despite desperately wanting to feel the “love” every mother talks about having for their child.
The child star turned to alcohol to help contain her emotions and later went to rehab.
Panettiere and Klitschko broke up due to her struggles with her mental health and the long-distance nature of their relationship, with her in LA and him in Ukraine. He sued her for full custody of Kaya when she was three.
Discussing handing over full custody, she said: "It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make.
"I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mom she needed me to be."
The actor added that they were “so connected” now and talk regularly.
"I love my daughter, and I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her.”
She also remarked on their uncanny likeness, joking: "She's like a mini-me."
Panettiere shared her hopes that Kaya can "one day understand my story, and why I wasn't able to be with her all the time”.
Why Hayden gave her ex full custody of her daughter
Monday 17 August 2026 08:47 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere said she was “heartbroken” about giving full custody of her then-three-year-old daughter, Kaya, to her boxer ex, Wladimir Klitschko.
She admitted it wasn’t “fully” her decision and was “shocked” over the move.
She had Kaya was only visiting Ukraine while she was treated for her addiction to alcohol and pills, when it became apparent that she would be staying there with Klitschko.
“I was gonna go work on myself and I was gonna get better, and when I got better that things could change and she could come to me and I could have my time with her, “she told Red Table Talk.
“But that didn’t happen. I thought she was going over to visit him like she always did.
“[Kaya] would go back and forth from me in Nashville and Ukraine, and then once she was over there, it was immediately ‘I want full custody of her,’ which was a shock to me.’”
She eventually signed the papers granting him full custody, stating it was “the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever, ever had to do in my life”.
Cause of death and final moments
Monday 17 August 2026 08:36 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere died in South Carolina, according to The New York Times.
She flew out of Los Angeles to the south the day before her death with on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, TMZ reported.
Hickerson’s family is aware, according to the outlet.
“Police responded to an incident involving Hayden today and there is currently an open investigation,” South Carolina police said.
The circumstances surrounding her death are currently unknown.
Rosie O'Donnell leads celeb tributes
Monday 17 August 2026 08:00 , Ekin Karasin
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell shared a photo of Panettiere from the 2006 film Bring It On: All or Nothing, and wrote on Instagram: “Oh my god – heartbroken.”
Singer JoJo described the news as “devastating”, adding: "I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh my god.”
7th Heaven actor Beverley Mitchell commented on Panettiere’s final Instagram post: “Praying the news is wrong! You are such a bright light and soooo loved!!!!”
Hayden on her brother's death: 'I lost half my soul'
Monday 17 August 2026 08:00 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly aged 28 in 2023.
The Walking Dead star died from cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, coupled with aortic valve complications.
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” Panettiere told People. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.
“I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over his loss.”
She developed agoraphobia after his death, and eventually found relief through regular walks with her personal trainer.
In February 2025, on the second anniversary of Jansen's death, she wrote: “2 years ago today, I lost my little brother. The pain isn't quantifiable.”
Hayden's poignant final Instagram post
Monday 17 August 2026 07:49 , Ekin Karasin
Just two weeks ago, Panettiere shared a picture of her appearing in good spirits beside Hollywood photographer Randall Slavin.
The snap was captioned “Good times and good friends.”
Slavin has re-shared the image to his story in a touching tribute to his friend, writing “Peace be with you, H”.
Hayden on life after giving birth: 'I was so depressed'
Monday 17 August 2026 07:36 , Ekin Karasin
Scream co-stars share devastation
Monday 17 August 2026 07:27 , Ekin Karasin
Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in Scream VI, shared a tribute to Panettiere on her Instagram Stories writing: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.”
They starred together in the 2023 horror film, with Panettiere reprising her role as Kirby Reed, the character she first played in 2011’s Scream 4.
Panettiere had defended Barrera after she was dropped from Scream 7, describing the move as “very unfair and upsetting”.
David Arquette, a veteran of the Scream franchise who has appeared in many of the films, wrote on social media, “I love you Hayden,” with a broken heart emoji.
He had attended a horror convention with Panettiere in February.
Jay Shetty remembers 'moving interview' with Hayden
Monday 17 August 2026 07:16 , Ekin Karasin
Jay Shetty had an emotional conversation with Panettiere on his On Purpose podcast just weeks before her death.
“I can’t believe it. Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans,” he wrote on Instagram.
In an episode airing in May, Panettiere spoke to Shetty about the pressures of becoming famous as a child.
She said she lost “the innocence of a normal childhood”, adding: “I felt like I was alone in a room full of people,.”
The star also reflected on her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression after her daughter Kaya’s birth.
Selma Blair: 'I love you'
Monday 17 August 2026 07:09 , Michael Howie
Selma Blair worked with Panettiere as a child actor - and has posted an emotional tribute to the star.
Commenting on Panettiere’s final Instagram post from July 27, the Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions star wrote: “I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please.”
In another post, she wrote: “I’m dying. Please be here.”
Mental health struggles
Monday 17 August 2026 07:01 , Michael Howie
In a memoir published earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her struggles with mental health, the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter Kyra to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.
“The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn’t be further from the truth,” she told podcaster Jay Shetty after the release of her memoir in May.
Panettiere said her daughter had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid the actress’s struggles with addiction and mental health.
She said: “I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself.”
Child actor who became huge TV and film star
Monday 17 August 2026 07:00 , Michael Howie
Hayden Panettiere first appeared on screens as a child in soap operas, before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Her big breakthrough came when she began playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes.
She went on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the hit TV series Nashville.
Panettiere film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36
Monday 17 August 2026 06:54 , Michael Howie
Hayden Panettiere’s agent has confirmed the death of the US actress at the age of 36.
The cause of the US actress’s death has not been announced.
She was best known for her roles in the smash-hit TV shows Heroes and Nashville.
The statement from her father Skip read: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
“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.”
Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.
