Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 10:17 17 Aug 2026 GMT
Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the news in a statement, expressing deep sadness over the loss of his daughter.
Emergency personnel responded to a call regarding an unresponsive female in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon, where the former child star was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities indicated that a preliminary investigation showed no immediate signs of foul play.
The tragic news comes just months after public tension between the Heroes star and her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel.
In May, while Panettiere was promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Vogel spoke out publicly regarding their fractured relationship. Vogel offered harsh criticisms regarding her daughter's personality and motives during an interview.
Vogel claimed that the public discussion surrounding their relationship was driven by commercial interests. She criticized her daughter's behavior, offering a harsh assessment of the underlying issues dividing them.
Responding to allegations made during Panettiere's press tour, Vogel stated to Page Six that she believed "the present drama is partially to sell books." She further described a personality profile that she claimed fit her daughter, stating, "There is a personality 'style' which manifests as a need for control, entitlement and a lack of empathy. The major fear is that someone will see through the mask they present to the world and discover who they truthfully are."
Vogel noted that she chose to cut off contact after experiencing what she described as "20 years of trauma."
She expressed that watching a child follow a self-destructive path is painful for any parent, adding, "You cannot save someone who does not want to be saved. Radical acceptance is the most difficult challenge any parent must embrace."
Panettiere had previously shared her own side of the story during an appearance on the Jay Shetty Podcast. She recalled the difficult moment at age 19 when she decided to separate her personal life from her professional life by firing her mother as her manager.
Panettiere claimed that when she asked Vogel to strictly be her mother, Vogel responded, "You owe me."
Panettiere also alleged that her mother once blamed her career for keeping the family apart, claiming Vogel told her, "You're the reason why I'm missing my son growing up."
Panettiere noted that the statement felt like a punch in the gut, as she had not asked to enter the acting industry as a child.
Officials continue to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of the Nashville star.
While police have noted no suspicious circumstances so far, the coroner's office and local law enforcement maintain an open investigation.
Tributes have poured in from fans and former co-stars honoring the late actress.
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