A treasured family friend is mourning Hayden Panettiere’s passing. Lynsey Lonberg was referred to as a ‘second mother’ by Hayden in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” Now, Lonberg is speaking out on the actress’s untimely passing in a revealing interview.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lonberg spoke about the struggles Panettiere went through. The “Heroes” star breathed her last at just 36 on August 16, 2026. Details about her final days have come to light since. Lonberg’s account provides further details on the actress’s background.
Hayden Panettiere Was Affected By The Hollywood Lifestyle
Lynsey Lonberg had been around Hayden Panettiere since her younger days. The 36-year-old’s sudden passing shocked Lonberg as much as anyone else. In her interview, she talked about Panettiere’s years-long battle with depression. According to Lonberg, working was the only way Panettiere coped. However, she believes this trapped Panettiere in an unfortunate cycle because of Hollywood’s demands.
“She tried and tried and tried to get past her struggles,” Lonberg said to the Daily Mail, “but she was an actress. She told me that when you go working on a set, all kinds of pills, liquor, all kinds of things are available where you can get anything you want. This kid didn’t have a chance. I don’t think she would have gone down the road she went down if it hadn’t been for Hollywood.”
Apart from a starring role in “Nashville,” Panettiere had been on a Hollywood hiatus for years. The actress wasn’t seen onscreen until 2023’s “Scream VI,” released five years after “Nashville” ended in 2018. She was gradually picking up her filmography in her final years,
Lonberg maintained that Panettiere was fully committed to her daughter. The actress had relinquished custody to former partner Wladimir Klitschko, who lives in Ukraine. According to Lonberg, Panettiere “did the best she could for her daughter.” But she also felt that it was “impossible” for her to maintain a Hollywood career and be a parent.
Hayden Panettiere’s Family Has Lost Both Their Children Now
Hayden Panettiere was the older of two children. Her younger brother, Jansen, had passed away at 28 in 2023 from an undiagnosed enlarged heart and aortic valve complications. Hayden had posted a tribute for what would have been Jansen’s 31st birthday. The actress called her sibling “a remarkable human being.” She also held hope that “his spirit is always near” to “protect” her and her family.
Linsay Lonberg has extended her condolences to Hayden’s father. She told the Daily Mail that she rang up Alan Lee “Skip” Panettiere the day she had left the world. Lonberg voiced her deep remorse at the Panettiere patriarch losing both his children.
“I can’t imagine losing a child, but for him to lose both of his children, I can’t imagine how difficult that must be for a parent. It’s just so devastating,” she said to the outlet. “He’s a strong man. But how do you pull through this? I don’t know how.”
Lonberg also talked about feeling a similar remorse. In the interview, she referred to Panettiere as “like a child to me.” During such a difficult time, Hayden’s friends and family have demonstrated their love for her. The actress’s legacy lives on in both her work and the impact she had on her fanbase.
