Former world‑heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko used Instagram on Tuesday to announce that his family was "going through a time of profound shock and grief" after the death of his former partner, actress Hayden Panettiere.
Klitschko wrote that the loss had deeply saddened him and that Panettiere, although no longer his partner, had been an important part of his life and the mother of their 11‑year‑old daughter, Kaya. He added that he would continue to speak of her with respect, asked for privacy, and thanked those offering condolences. "Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace," he concluded.
Relationship and custody
The pair first met in 2009, became engaged in 2013 and welcomed their daughter in 2014. Although they never married, they shared custody of Kaya until Panettiere, struggling with postpartum depression and alcoholism, signed over full custody when the child was three years old.
Panettiere’s memoir and reflections
Earlier this year Panettiere released a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning. In it she described the pain of not living under the same roof as her daughter, writing, "Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut‑wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion, including sadness, resentment, and anger I felt because of it…" She also expressed that the bond with Kaya remained "incredibly strong" despite the challenges.
Details of her death
On Sunday, police in Greenville, South Carolina, responded to a call reporting a cardiac arrest at a residence. Panettiere was found unresponsive shortly before 2 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. The coroner’s office confirmed that an autopsy showed no signs of foul play or trauma, and the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, informed ABC News of the tragedy on Sunday. Panettiere would have turned 37 on Friday.
Career highlights
Hayden Panettiere began acting at four, appearing in soap operas and television commercials. She rose to prominence in 2006 as a super‑powered cheerleader in the series Heroes, a role that earned her three Teen Choice Awards and a Grammy nomination for a children’s spoken‑word album released after the animated film A Bug’s Life. She later received two Golden Globe supporting‑actress nominations for her portrayal of Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Her film work includes appearances in two Scream movies, starring roles in Ice Princess, Bring It On: All or Nothing, the title role in I Love You Beth Cooper (2009), and a part as the young daughter of a football coach in Remember the Titans.
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