Wladimir Klitschko, Hayden Panettiere’s former fiancé, publicly addressed the actor’s death for the first time Tuesday, describing the news as a “profound shock” and a “tragic death.”
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko wrote on social media. “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.”
Panettiere died Sunday at age 36 after being found in cardiac arrest at a residence in South Carolina. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said emergency responders attempted to revive her, but “resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
“The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies,” the coroner’s office said in its statement.
Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing world champion, began dating Panettiere in 2009. The couple became engaged in October 2013 and welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in December 2014. In 2018, Panettiere granted Klitschko full primary custody of their child.
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry,” Klitschko said Tuesday. “Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives.”
He added, “To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was.”
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Panettiere’s career stretched across more than three decades, beginning when she was a child appearing in national advertising campaigns. By 16, she was already an industry veteran when she broke out as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s hit series “Heroes” in 2006. She later built a wide-ranging résumé in film and television, with prominent roles in the “Scream” horror franchise and the musical drama “Nashville,” where she portrayed country star Juliette Barnes for six seasons on ABC and CMT.
Panettiere had spoken candidly about her battles with opioid and alcohol addiction, struggles she said began in her teenage years. Her grief deepened after the 2023 death of her younger brother, Jansen, who died at 28 from a heart condition. Just three months ago, she released a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she reflected on her personal hardships and her recovery from addiction.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today,” Klitschko said. “Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
He closed the message: “Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace.”
Nicole Brown Chau
contributed to this report.
