Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died at the age of 36.
TMZ reported that the actress died on Sunday and that an investigation into her death has been opened. Although the exact cause of her death has yet to be confirmed, the outlet noted that Panettiere had been complaining about back pain in the past year.
Following the news of Panettiere’s shocking passing, interest has turned to her private life, including her dating history. Here’s a look back at her relationships over the years.
Stephen Colletti
GettyPanettiere and Stephen Colletti dated for nearly two years after meeting in 2006, when they were introduced by a mutual publicist.
In May 2026, the “One Life to Live” star opened up about her past relationship with Colletti, nearly two decades after their split.
“I’m so grateful that he was part of my life, especially when he was,” Panettiere told Us Weekly. “Because when I was with him was when I started having to deal with paparazzi and tabloids and being the focal point of them.”
She continued, “[He] was able to help guide me through that experience and getting used to that. [He] was very protective of me.”
Milo Ventimiglia
GettyPanettiere also dated her “Heroes” costar Milo Ventimiglia from 2007 to 2009. At the time, she had just turned, while Ventimiglia was 30.
In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere revealed that she had a crush on Ventimiglia from the time they began working together on the show. Their friendship took a romantic turn while the cast was on a European press tour.
“However, something was in the air in Europe,” Panettiere said in her book. “Maybe it was the sights or the food or the fact that everyone fell all over us, but I felt dizzy with joy, and it seemed so did Milo. Over the course of the world tour, our friendship turned to flirtation, and, just like that, we became a thing.”
Wladimir Klitschko
GettyPanettiere met Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko at a party in 2008. The following year, the two officially became a couple and have been in an on-and-off relationship for nine years.
The first time Panettiere and Klitschko split was in 2011. At the time, the “Scream” actress maintained that they “remain very close friends.”
In February 2013, the two were seen having lunch together, and by October of that year, they got engaged.
Panettiere and Klitschko welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in December 2014. They ultimately parted ways in August 2018.
Scotty McKnight
GettyDuring one of her splits from Klitschko, Panettiere dated New York Jets wide receiver Scotty McKnight. The two started a romantic relationship in 2011, but called it quits by the end of 2012.
At the time, Us Weekly reported that distance and different personalities played a part in the split but that the couple remains on good terms.
Brian Hickerson
Panettiere began dating Brian Hickerson in 2018. However, he was arrested the following year following an alleged domestic violence incident involving the actress.
The charges were later dropped before Hickerson was arrested again in 2020. Panettiere and Hickerson broke up in 2022, but they would later reconnect as friends, per Page Six.
In May 2026, Hickerson admitted that he still hopes to marry the “Tiger Cruise” star despite their rocky past.
“I hope so, [but] she probably doesn’t think the same way,” Hickerson told TMZ. “I think Hayden is one of most talented people I’ve ever met in my life, and I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career.”
