Hayden Panettiere’s Estranged Mother Speaks Out Following Her Death at 36
By Alexus Mosley
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, is speaking out following the actress’ sudden death at 36.
Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, Remember the Titans and the Scream franchise, died on Sunday, August 16. Her father, Alan Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement, remembering his daughter as an “incredible light and a force of nature.” An official cause of death has not yet been announced.
In an interview with NBC News following Panettiere’s death, Vogel reflected on her daughter’s life and the difficulties she believed came with growing up in the entertainment industry.
Vogel described her daughter as enormously talented but said that navigating the industry from such a young age could be challenging. Panettiere began working professionally as a child before eventually becoming one of the most recognizable young actresses of the 2000s.
Vogel also directly addressed Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, expressing longstanding concerns about his presence in her daughter’s life. A police report confirms that Hickerson and his brother were at the South Carolina apartment where Panettiere was found unresponsive. Authorities have said there were no signs of trauma or foul play, and her cause of death remains under investigation.
Vogel’s comments come after both mother and daughter publicly discussed their complicated relationship. Earlier this year, Panettiere recalled telling her mother (who had managed her career from childhood) that she no longer wanted them to work together and instead simply wanted Vogel to be her mother.
Panettiere later acknowledged that the two did not have a relationship at the time, though she said she remained open to the possibility that could someday change. Vogel similarly said in May that she had chosen to go no-contact after what she characterized as years of turmoil between them.
Despite their estrangement, Vogel is now mourning her daughter while finding comfort in the thought that Hayden has been reunited with her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023 at age 28.
Panettiere is survived by her parents and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.