Wladimir Klitschko has paid tribute to his former partner Hayden Panettiere on what would have been her 37th birthday, saying the actress “will never be forgotten”.
The US actress, known for starring in Heroes and Nashville, died at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. She was 36.
A first birthday without her
Klitschko, a former boxer, dated Panettiere from 2009 to 2018. Their daughter, Kaya, was born in 2014.
He was among the many famous faces who paid tribute to Panettiere after her death, writing earlier this week that his family was “going through a time of profound shock and grief”.
On Friday, Klitschko commemorated Panettiere’s first birthday since she died in a post to Instagram, having penned a lengthy tribute beneath a photo of the actress.
“Today is Hayden’s birthday,” he wrote. “Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.”
Message of love and kindness
Klitschko acknowledged “the incredible outpouring of love and support” which has followed since her death, adding: “At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.”
He ended the post with a message urging for kindness, writing: “If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about Love. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it.”
“Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten,” he said.
The post has been inundated with comments from supporters, fans and celebrities, including actor Sam Palladio, who starred alongside Panettiere in country music drama Nashville. “Sending love on this sad day,” he wrote.
Career and legacy
Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition for her role 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 later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before going on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.
Her film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
Following her rapid rise to fame, the pressure of the industry began to weigh on Panettiere, with the actress previously revealing that she had battled with addiction throughout her 20s. The actress gave Klitschko full custody of their now 11-year-old daughter in 2018 amid her struggles, which she discussed in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.
