Hayden Panettiere’s loved ones are remembering her legacy after her heartbreaking death.
After the Heroes alum died Aug. 16 at the age of 36, her father Skip Panettiere spoke out about their loss.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he told People in an Aug. 16 statement. “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.”
The Bring It On alum was pronounced dead in Greenville, South Carolina, just before 2 p.m. local time on Aug. 16, after police and Emergency Medical Services responded to a 911 call placed by an “acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere,” where she was described as “unresponsive.”
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered,” a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department said in a statement obtained by People Aug. 17, “however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
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“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” the spokesperson added. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya, who she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
Following her passing, Panettiere’s colleagues took time to honor her impact on the entertainment industry and beyond.
Viola Davis, who starred alongside Hayden in 2016’s Custody, remembered her as “an amazing talent.”
“Julius [Tennon] and I loved working with you,” Davis wrote in her Aug. 17 Instagram post, “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. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy.”
“You will be remembered,” she added. “Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”
Meanwhile, podcaster Jay Shetty—who sat down with Hayden in May for an emotional conversation about her sobriety journey and the 2023 death of her brother Jansen Panettiere—shared he was in “disbelief” at her death.
“You were so special,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories alongside a clip of her podcast episode. “May you always be protected and peaceful.”
Keep reading for a look back at Panettiere through the years…
