Hayden Panettiere’s Family Speaks Out After Her Tragic Death

Hayden Panettiere Shared Heartbreaking Final Instagram Post Weeks Before Death at 36Hayden 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."“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."Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage“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…Photo by Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images1994Photo by Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images1996Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images1998Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage2001Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images2003Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images2004Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage for ABC Cable Networks Group2004Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images2005Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage2006Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic2006Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images2008Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)2010Jason Merritt/Getty Images2012Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images2013Photo by Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images2014Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Time Warner Cable2014Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images2015Rick Diamond/Getty Images2016Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic2017Hayden Panettiere/Twitter 2018Amanda Edwards/Getty Images2019 Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images2022Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images2023Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images2024Jeff Neira/Disney via Getty Images2026For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App