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Hayden Panettiere's mother breaks silence after her death

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Hayden Panettiere’s mother opens up about her daughter’s life
ABC News
ByShafiq Najib
August 24, 2026, 3:11 AM

Hayden Panettiere's mother is opening up about how she hopes her daughter will be remembered following the actress's death at age 36.

"I want Hayden to be remembered for the talented, you know, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was," Lesley Vogel told ABC News.

Tune in to "Good Morning America" on Monday, Aug. 24, from 7 to 9 a.m. ET on ABC for more of the interview with Hayden Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel.

Lesley Vogel, mother of Hayden Panettiere, speaks with ABC News, August 23, 2026.
ABC News

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Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes," "Nashville" and "Ice Princess," died on Aug. 16 after she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. First responders attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her death came months after Panettiere spoke publicly about her relationship with her mother, who served as her acting coach in her childhood.

In a May interview with ABC News, Panettiere said trying to maintain a relationship with her had been "tough."

Actress Hayden Panettiere and her mother Lesley Vogel arrive at the InStyle/Warner Bros. after party for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards held on January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California.
Lester Cohen/WireImage

"Over the years, I've tried to leave that door open, hoping that the relationship would evolve into a healthy mother-daughter relationship, and it's obvious that that's just not going to be the case," she explained.

At the time, Vogel responded to her daughter's comments in a statement to Page Six, saying she had chosen to go "the no-contact route" after taking "the advice of professionals."

The Greenville City Police Department is leading the investigation into Panettiere's death, with the Drug Enforcement Administration assisting, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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Brian Hickerson's attorney issues statement after Hayden Panettiere's death

According to a police report obtained by ABC News, Panettiere was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, at the time of her death. The report said it was unknown whether Panettiere had been using drugs or alcohol.

Panettiere's official cause and manner of death "remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies," the coroner's office said.

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