Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko says family in 'profound shock and grief'

What the report says

Wladimir Klitschko has paid tribute to his former partner Hayden Panettiere after the actress died at age 36, saying he and their family are in “profound shock and grief.” BBC World News reported that Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion, shared an emotional message after Panettiere’s death in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. The couple had one daughter, Kaya, born in 2014, and were engaged but never married.

In his statement, Klitschko described Panettiere as talented and said she left “too soon,” adding that she remained an important part of his life as the mother of their child. He also asked for privacy and said he would speak about her respectfully to their daughter. The BBC said tributes have also come from colleagues and friends in television and film, including co-stars from Heroes and Nashville.

Authorities in Greenville said they saw no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The coroner’s office said the woman treated by emergency crews was in cardiac arrest and that an autopsy showed no trauma, but the cause of death had not been confirmed in the reporting. The BBC also noted Panettiere had long spoken publicly about substance abuse and postpartum depression. Her death adds a somber note to the career of a child actor who later became known for major roles in Heroes and Nashville.