Lesley Vogel, Hayden Panettiere's mother, spoke publicly for the first time since the actress' death at age 36. The two had a troubled relationship and were apart when the star of "Heroes" and "Nashville" died, last Sunday (16), in South Carolina, in the United States.
Hayden Panettiere's mother breaks silence after death: 'She was lost'
Lesley Vogel, Hayden Panettiere's mother, spoke publicly for the first time since the actress' death at age 36. The two had a troubled relationship and were apart when the star of "Heroes" and "Nashville" died, last Sunday (16), in South...
In a telephone interview with NBC News this Tuesday (18), Vogel highlighted his daughter's talent, but stated that he believes that the pressure faced by those growing up in the entertainment industry contributed to the difficulties Hayden experienced over the years. "I think Hayden was an incredibly talented person in many ways," he said.
- According to Vogel, young people who grow up in the artistic world face a very demanding industry and can end up following harmful paths.
- The mother also said that she wished her daughter's trajectory had been different and declared that Hayden ended up "losing herself".
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In a telephone interview with NBC News this Tuesday (18), Vogel highlighted his daughter's talent, but stated that he believes that the pressure faced by those growing up in the entertainment industry contributed to the difficulties Hayden experienced over the years.
"I think Hayden was an incredibly talented person in many ways," he said. According to Vogel, young people who grow up in the artistic world face a very demanding industry and can end up following harmful paths.
The mother also said that she wished her daughter's trajectory had been different and declared that Hayden ended up "losing herself". When talking about mourning, he also remembered Jansen Panettiere, the actress's younger brother, who died suddenly in 2023, at the age of 28, due to heart problems.
"I just feel like she's with her brother and they're both at peace," Vogel said.
Hayden Panettiere exposed difficult relationship with her mother
A few months before he died, Hayden had spoken openly about conflicts with Lesley Vogel. The relationship between the two was also covered in the memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning", released in May 2026.
Participating in Jay Shetty's podcast "On Purpose", the actress said that she started working as a baby and that, over the years, her relationship with her mother, who managed her career, became increasingly more professional and less affectionate.
"Everything revolved around business. I became her confidant, assistant, therapist, shoulder to lean on and everything else, except her daughter", he reported at the time.
Hayden said that, at the age of 19, while working on the series "Heroes", he decided to end his professional relationship with his mother. According to the actress, she wanted Vogel to stop being her manager and just take on the role of mother. The response he received, according to his account, was: "You owe me."
The actress stated that she still had hope of rebuilding the family relationship, but was shaken when she realized that the rapprochement did not happen as she wanted. On the other hand, he described his relationship with his father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, as good.
Cause of death has not yet been determined
Hayden Panettiere was found unconscious in a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday (16). Emergency teams performed resuscitation procedures, but the actress was pronounced dead at the scene.
The autopsy did not identify signs of trauma, and authorities reported that there was no evidence of foul play. The cause and manner of death have not yet been officially determined. Communications from emergency services mentioned a possible overdose, but this hypothesis remains under investigation and should not be treated as a confirmed cause.
Hayden became known worldwide for works such as "Heroes", "Nashville" and the "Scream" franchise. Over the past few years, she has also spoken publicly about alcohol and opioid addiction, postpartum depression and other difficult periods in her personal life.
Former actress loses her two children in just over three years
The actress' death at the age of 36 represents a new loss for Lesley Vogel and Alan “Skip” Panettiere, who had already buried Jansen in 2023. Months before she died, Hayden publicly exposed old conflicts in her relationship with her mother