Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death at the age of 36 has left her family, friends and millions of fans struggling to comprehend the loss.
Now, her former fiancé and the father of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, has spoken publicly for the first time since the actress’ death.
Wladimir Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, described the family as being in a state of “profound shock and grief” as they mourn Panettiere, who died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina.
The actress, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, was found unresponsive at a residence after an acquaintance called 911.
She was only 36.
Emergency Call Came Shortly Before Her Death
According to police, emergency services were contacted at approximately 1:50 p.m. after a report of an “unidentified female” experiencing cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders arrived at the residence and attempted to provide medical assistance.
Despite those efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said in a statement that the case remains under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in cooperation with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities have also emphasized that the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
An acquaintance of Panettiere was the person who placed the 911 call.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, and officials have not yet publicly established the official cause of death.
Her Family Is Now Facing an Unimaginable Loss
Panettiere leaves behind her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with Klitschko.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed his daughter’s death in a heartbreaking statement shortly after the news emerged.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said.
He remembered his daughter as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who had brought extraordinary love and happiness to those around her, as well as to the millions of people who watched her on screen.
For a family that has already experienced profound loss, the death of Hayden has brought another devastating blow.
And now, Klitschko has shared his own words about the woman who remained an important part of his life long after their romantic relationship ended.
Wladimir Klitschko Speaks About Hayden
In a statement shared on Facebook, Klitschko described the family’s emotional state as one of deep shock and grief.
“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” he wrote.
“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon.”
Although the couple were no longer together, Klitschko made clear that Panettiere remained deeply significant to him.
“Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya,” he wrote.
His words offered a glimpse into the complicated but lasting connection they shared through their daughter.
“I Will Always Speak of Her Mother With Respect”
Perhaps the most emotional part of Klitschko’s message was his promise to their daughter.
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he wrote.
The statement comes at a particularly difficult moment for Kaya, who has now lost her mother at only 11 years old.
For Klitschko, preserving Panettiere’s memory for their daughter appears to be one of the most important responsibilities he feels he now carries.
The actress had previously spoken openly about how much she loved Kaya and how painful it was not to be with her daughter every day.
Panettiere had also expressed her desire for Kaya to have the freedom to live a life away from the intense public attention that had followed her own career since childhood.
Their Relationship Was Complicated by Panettiere’s Struggles
Panettiere and Klitschko began dating in 2009 and became engaged in 2013.
Their daughter, Kaya, was born in 2014.
But in the years following Kaya’s birth, Panettiere faced serious personal struggles, including postpartum depression and addiction.
Eventually, Klitschko became the primary caregiver for their daughter, with Panettiere later speaking publicly about how painful it was to live apart from Kaya.
She described the experience as one of the most heartbreaking periods of her life.
Importantly, Panettiere repeatedly emphasized that her decision to allow Kaya to live with her father was not because she did not love her daughter.
She believed Kaya needed stability while Panettiere worked to rebuild her own life.
That decision remained a source of emotional pain for the actress for years.
Klitschko Remembered More Than Her Struggles
In his statement, Klitschko did not focus on the difficult chapters of Panettiere’s life.
Instead, he remembered her talent and the career she built despite the enormous challenges she faced.
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry,” he wrote.
His words acknowledged both sides of her story.
Panettiere was a successful actress who became famous around the world, but she was also a woman who publicly struggled with the pressures that came with growing up in Hollywood.
She began working in entertainment as a child and spent much of her life in front of cameras.
Her breakthrough came when she starred as Claire Bennet in Heroes, a role that turned her into an international television star.
She later earned two Golden Globe nominations for her performance as Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
She also appeared in films including Remember the Titans, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
“Nothing Will Erase the Times We Shared”
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Klitschko made clear that the history they shared would always remain part of his life.
“Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,” he wrote.
It was a quiet acknowledgment that relationships can change without erasing the years, memories and experiences that came before.
For Klitschko, Panettiere was no longer his partner, but she was still the mother of his daughter and someone whose presence had shaped his life.
That connection will continue through Kaya.
A Request for Privacy
Klitschko also used his statement to ask the public to give the family space to grieve.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today,” he wrote.
“Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon.”
He ended his message with a direct request.
“I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” he wrote.
“For now, this is all I wish to say.”
Those final words reflect the enormity of what the family is now facing.
Panettiere lived much of her life under intense public scrutiny. Her relationships, career, struggles and personal experiences were frequently discussed in the media.
But in the aftermath of her death, her family is asking for something different.
They are asking for privacy.
A Mother, Daughter and Actress Remembered
Hayden Panettiere’s career began when she was a child and eventually carried her to some of television’s biggest shows.
But to Kaya, she was not Claire Bennet from Heroes or Juliette Barnes from Nashville.
She was simply her mother.
That is the part of Panettiere’s legacy Klitschko now appears determined to protect.
His promise to speak of her with respect and ensure that Kaya remembers who her mother was may become one of the most meaningful tributes to Panettiere in the days and years ahead.
Her career will continue to live through the characters she played and the work she left behind.
But for her family, her legacy is far more personal.
She was a daughter.
A sister.
A mother.
A former partner.
And a woman whose life, despite its painful chapters, touched millions.
As the investigation into her death continues, those closest to Hayden Panettiere are left with the memories that no investigation can change.
And for Wladimir Klitschko, one promise now stands above everything else:
His daughter will grow up knowing that her mother was loved, respected and remembered—not simply for the struggles she endured, but for the person she was.