Wladimir Klitschko has conveyed his "shock and grief" following the tragic death of his former fiancee, American actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away at age 36 on Sunday afternoon. Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was discovered at her residence by authorities in Greenville, South Carolina. Police attended after a telephone call from an acquaintance stating that the actress was "unresponsive" and in "cardiac arrest". There were "no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances" surrounding her death.
A 10-year relationship and a daughter
Panettiere and Klitschko were together for 10 years and welcomed a daughter in 2014. The retired boxer posted on social media: "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief."
"The announcement of Hayden's tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya."
"She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives."
Career and personal struggles
Panettiere launched her acting career as a youngster, featuring in soap operas before achieving broader acclaim for her performance in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar's 1998 film A Bug's Life. She rose to prominence portraying cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes and continued as aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville. Her work on the programme garnered two Golden Globe nominations and 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Following a difficult birth, Panettiere experienced post-natal depression and entered rehab, granting full custody of her daughter to Klitschko. In a memoir released earlier this year, she discussed her mental health challenges and the death of her younger brother, Jansen. She told podcaster Jay Shetty: "I was struggling with mental health and anxiety, and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself."
Tributes and final words
In his social media post, Klitschko added: "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was. I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden's parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon. I ask everyone to please respect our family's feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say. Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace."
