Lesley Vogel, mother of Hayden Panettiere, has broken her silence following the unexpected death of the 36-year-old American actress in South Carolina on August 16, 2026. Vogel, who also acted as her daughter's manager during her early career, remembered the former child star's talent and reflected on the challenges of growing up in Hollywood.
Speaking in a telephone interview with NBC News on August 18, Vogel said her daughter was an incredibly talented person in many aspects, but noted that growing up within the entertainment industry can be particularly difficult for young performers. She said it becomes very hard to stay true to oneself and that Hayden sadly lost her way, adding she felt her daughter was now at peace alongside her younger brother Jansen Panettiere, who died unexpectedly at age 28 in 2023.
NBC News, a major American television news organization based in New York, reported the interview as local authorities in South Carolina continued their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the actress's passing.
Investigation into the death
The death of the actress, famous for starring in the television series Nashville and numerous films, occurred in South Carolina. According to a police report cited in initial accounts, her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother were present with her when she was found dead.
An official cause of death has not yet been determined. According to police dispatch audio cited by American media outlets, responding officers mentioned a possible overdose and cardiac arrest at the time they attended the emergency call.
Vogel also expressed concern regarding Hickerson's presence during the final moments of her daughter's life. The relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson had been marked by episodes of domestic violence and multiple arrests involving Hickerson.
A preliminary autopsy ruled out any indications of physical trauma or criminality, while authorities await official laboratory and toxicological findings to establish the definitive cause of death. Emergency medical services and law enforcement agencies in South Carolina routinely conduct preliminary autopsies in unattended deaths to exclude foul play.
Tensions and family estrangement
The relationship between Panettiere and her mother had been marked by years of personal tension. Vogel was heavily involved in her daughter's career from childhood, but Panettiere later revealed in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, that the line between mother and talent manager became blurred over time.
While working on the television series Heroes at the age of 19, Panettiere decided to ask her mother to step down as her manager in an effort to rebuild their family bond, as reported by People en Espanol. Panettiere recalled telling her mother that she simply wanted her to be her mother, to which Vogel reportedly responded that her daughter owed her money.
The actress described that strained relationship as one of the most painful experiences of her life. Vogel previously rejected parts of her daughter's account, stating that she had chosen to maintain her distance following years of ongoing conflict.
Vogel had previously declared regarding her daughter's personal struggles that a person cannot save someone who does not want to be saved.
Career in television and film
Panettiere began her career in entertainment as an infant, appearing in commercials before securing television and film roles that established her as a prominent young actor in Hollywood. Her early acting credits included the long-running daytime soap opera One Life to Live, the Pixar animated feature film A Bug's Life, in which she voiced the character Dot, and the biographical sports drama film Remember the Titans alongside Denzel Washington.
Her major career breakthrough came with the NBC science-fiction drama series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010. Playing the role of cheerleader Claire Bennet, Panettiere became one of the most recognizable young faces on American television, earning multiple awards and industry nominations.
She later starred in the musical drama series Nashville, portraying country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons between 2012 and 2018. Her performance in the show earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
In film, Panettiere gained wider recognition for her portrayal of Kirby Reed in the horror franchise entry Scream 4, a role she later reprised in Scream VI. Her most recent screen work included the 2025 film A Breed Apart, the 2026 film Sleepwalker, and voice work for the horror video game Until Dawn. Her career spanned more than three decades in total.
Family and personal life
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya Klitschko, who was born in 2014. Kaya's father is Panettiere's former partner, the retired Ukrainian professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, who held the unified world heavyweight title for several years during his sporting career.
During their relationship, Panettiere regularly attended Klitschko's high-profile boxing matches, including his world heavyweight title defense against British contender Tyson Fury at the Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, Germany, on November 28, 2015.
Panettiere's father previously confirmed her death on August 16 at the age of 36 through an official family statement. Further details regarding funeral arrangements or formal conclusions from the South Carolina coroner's office have not yet been released.
