Paris Hilton has shared an emotional tribute to Hayden Panettiere following the actor’s death at the age of 36, remembering her late friend as a “beautiful soul” who was talented, strong, kind and filled with love. Hilton took to social media to express her grief, admitting that she is struggling to process the news of Panettiere’s passing.
“Heartbroken over the loss of my friend Hayden,” Hilton wrote about alongside her tribute. “She was such a beautiful soul – so talented, strong, kind and full of so much love and light.” The socialite and media personality went on to describe the loss as difficult to comprehend, writing, “It’s impossible to believe she’s gone.”
Paris Hilton has shared an emotional tribute to Hayden Panettiere following the actor’s death at the age of 36
Hilton also looked back on the friendship she shared with actress Panettiere, saying she would always treasure the memories and experiences they had together. “I’ll always cherish our friendship, all the memories we shared, and the special moments we had together,” she wrote. Her message also extended sympathy to Panettiere’s family and the people closest to her as they navigate the loss. “My heart is with her family and everyone who loved her during this unimaginable time,” Hilton added.
Hilton concluded her tribute with a message of love for Panettiere, writing, “Love you forever, Hayden. Rest in peace, angel. You will be so deeply missed.”
Panettiere was best known for her roles as Claire Bennet in the hit NBC superhero series Heroes and Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville. Her performance as Claire, a cheerleader with regenerative abilities, made her one of the most recognisable young stars on television during the show’s original run from 2006 to 2010.
Jack Coleman recalled meeting Panettiere during the pilot of Heroes and described their close bond over the years
Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from friends, co-stars and collaborators who worked with her throughout her career. Heroes actor Jack Coleman, who played Panettiere’s on-screen father Noah Bennet, remembered the actor in an emotional social media post and spoke about the intense media attention she faced as a teenager.
recalled meeting Panettiere during the pilot of Heroes and described their close bond over the years. He also criticised the paparazzi for the aggressive way they pursued the young actor, saying she was “hunted” by photographers and subjected to intrusive scrutiny.
Heroes creator Tim Kring also paid tribute to Panettiere, describing her as a “singularly talented” actor and praising her ability to bring nuance, humor and emotional depth to her performances.
Panettiere leaves behind a daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, with her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko.