Wladimir Klitschko, Hayden Panettiere’s former fiancé, said her death came as a “profound shock” in a social media post on Tuesday, according to CBS News. He described the news as deeply saddening and said Panettiere was an important part of his life and the mother of their daughter, Kaya.
Panettiere died Sunday at age 36 after being found in cardiac arrest at a home in South Carolina, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. Officials said resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and additional studies.
Klitschko and Panettiere began dating in 2009 and became engaged in October 2013. Their daughter, Kaya, was born in December 2014, and Panettiere gave full primary custody of Kaya to Klitschko in 2018.
Panettiere’s career stretched across more than 30 years, beginning with commercial work as a child and later including roles in “Heroes,” the “Scream” films and “Nashville.” Klitschko said he will speak about Panettiere to their daughter with respect and remember her as a talented person who faced difficult parts of the entertainment industry.
