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Recently, former teen star, Hayden Panettiere — who’s now making an acting comeback — got emotional on TV while remembering her late younger brother Jansen Panettiere who passed away on February 19, 2023. Here’s a closer look at his life, as well as his relationship with the I Love You, Bet Cooper actress.
Who Was Jansen Panettiere?
Like Hayden, Jansen was also a child star known for his films: The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, The Perfect Game, Ice Age: The Meltdown, The Martial Arts Kid, and How High 2. Performing runs in the family with their mother, Lesley R. Vogel being a former soap opera actress.
In 2004, Jansen landed a supporting role in a Disney original flick about 9/11, Tiger Cruise led by Hayden. But at the end of that decade, the former decided to make a name for himself by taking on more serious roles. He started in 2010’s The Perfect Game — a movie about the 1957 Little League World Series, which was the first time a team from outside the U.S. had won the cup.
The following year, he joined the cast of The Forger, a drama about art forgery in California. His sister took on a leading role alongside The Hunger Games actor, Josh Hutcherson. In 2016, Jansen took another film inspired by a real-life tragedy. It’s called Five Minutes with Mary, which is about the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. MTV News described Jansen’s character Danny as “a boy thrust into the shootings after he receives a call from who he thinks is a friend in Paris.”
Hayden described it as a “motivating” project at that time. “We made this film to commemorate those that lost their lives during the terrorist attack on November 13 at the Bataclan in Paris, the impact this event has had on those families that have lost loved ones, people all around the world who have felt the effects of this tragedy,” he told the outlet.
“Working on a project based on such an event was very motivating. It made me feel like I was representing the unspoken stories.”He forayed into graffiti art, three years later.
What Was The Cause Of Death Of Jansen Panettiere?
A week after his sudden passing, Jansen’s family disclosed to the public that he had died of “cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
The family also asked everyone to respect their privacy during this time.
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“We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning,” they said in a statement to ABC News. “We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever.”
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, friends of the late actor had apparently been worried about him missing a business meeting prior to his death. When one of them went to his apartment to check on him, he was found unconscious sitting in a chair. They gave him CPR after immediately calling 911. Jansen’s dad, Skip Panettiere also told police that he had a conversation with his son just the night before. He sounded “OK,” said the fire department lieutenant.
An insider later told Entertainment Tonight that the former child star struggled with mental health issues. “Art was his therapy and escape,” claimed the source. “In the past, Jansen was open to family and friends about his struggles. Hayden was always there for him and constantly tried to help Jansen when she could.”
How Close Were Hayden Panettiere And Her Late Brother Jansen Panettiere?
ET‘s source noted that Hayden and Jansen were really close. They said that the former — who publicly battled addiction — was “absolutely heartbroken” about her sibling’s passing. The insider added that “she loved her brother unconditionally, and the two shared a special bond.”
In her recent appearance on Good Morning America, Hayden tearfully paid tribute to her brother. “He’s right here with me,” said the 33-year-old mom. In 2007, Jansen credited Hayden for boosting his acting career. “She gets me a little more noticed. She gives me a kick-start. With The Last Day of Summer, they will notice me more because she is my sister,” he told TV Guide at that time.
“It is almost like you are looking in a book, and the bookmark is my sister and she is basically showing me, she is able to push me out there. She helps me tremendously,” he continued.
Hayden echoed the same sentiments in the joint interview, saying: “He is a very balanced child. He has a heart of gold and would never wish bad on anyone. Sometimes I need to take a lesson from him. He keeps his cool really well.”
As a proud big sister, she also gushed about seeing Jansen grow as an actor. “Watching him, because he is such a kid, you realize sometimes how down you are and for absolutely no reason. I guess it is just that it is very difficult for kids in this business,” said the Scream VI actress back then.
