Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her work in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the news on August 16, 2026, in a statement shared with ABC News.
“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,” Skip told ABC News. He also requested privacy as the family takes time to process the loss. The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death have not been disclosed.
Panettiere was best known for playing Claire Bennet in the hit sci-fi series Heroes, which made her a major television star. She later gained recognition as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for the role. Her other notable credits included Remember The Titans, A Bug’s Life, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Here’s a look at Hayden Panettiere’s family.
Who Was Hayden Panettiere’s Father, Skip Panettiere?
Skip Panettiere, whose real name is Alan Lee Panettiere, was Hayden’s father. According to Us Weekly, he worked as a firefighter in New York City while his children were growing up.
Skip was the one who announced Hayden’s death and asked for privacy for the family. Hayden had also spoken about her relationship with her father and stepmother in an interview with Us Weekly. She recalled spending time living with them during a difficult period in her life and said that being around her family helped her feel grounded.
“I actually went and lived with him and my stepmom 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,” Panettiere told Us Weekly.
Hayden’s parents, Skip and actress Lesley Vogel, divorced in 2012, according to reports.
Who Is Hayden Panettiere’s Mother, Lesley Vogel?
Lesley Vogel is Hayden’s mother and was also an actress. She later worked as her daughter’s manager while Panettiere was building her career as a child actor.
The relationship between mother and daughter became strained over the years. Panettiere discussed her childhood and family experiences in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, including difficult aspects of her relationship with her mother.
Vogel later responded publicly to those claims. In an interview with Page Six in May 2026, she said she had chosen to have no contact with Hayden after what she described as years of conflict and trauma.
“After 20 years of trauma, I took the advice of professionals and chose the no contact route,” Vogel told Page Six. She also spoke about what she described as the difficult experience of watching a child in the entertainment industry struggle personally.
Who Was Hayden Panettiere’s Brother, Jansen?
Hayden’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, was also an actor. He started working as a child and appeared in television projects including Even Stevens.
Jansen died in 2023 at the age of 28. According to People, his death was caused by complications from an undiagnosed enlarged heart.
His death deeply affected Hayden. In an interview with People, she spoke about the impact of losing her only sibling and how the loss affected her physically and emotionally.
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” Panettiere told People. Speaking about his death, she added, “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”
In 2026, Hayden also shared a childhood picture of herself with Jansen on what would have been his 31st birthday. In the Instagram post, she remembered him as “a remarkable human being” who was “wise beyond his years.”
Who Is Hayden Panettiere’s Daughter, Kaya?
Panettiere also had one daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, who was born in December 2014 in Hawaii. Kaya is her daughter with Wladimir Klitschko, the Ukrainian former heavyweight boxing champion.
Panettiere and Klitschko were previously engaged and spent time raising Kaya together. Panettiere later gave custody of their daughter to Klitschko, according to reports, while Kaya has largely remained away from public attention.
