Hayden Panettiere is paying tribute to her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, on the second anniversary of his death.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, February 19, the 35-year-old Scream 4 actress shared a black-and-white image of her and Jansen, who died in February 2023. He was 28 years old.
“2 years ago today, I lost my little brother. This amazing human being touched the lives of so many. Especially mine,” Hayden captioned the photo.
“The pain isn’t quantifiable,” she said. “I pray you’re in a beautiful place J. That you’re at peace and that when all is said and done…I’ll see you again. Rest easy brother. You are so missed and beyond loved. 💜.”
At the time of Jansen’s passing, Hayden and her parents — mom Lesley Vogel and father Skip Panettiere — shared a heartfelt statement, revealing that Jansen, also an actor, died of “cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
The Panettiere family paid tribute to Jansen in the message, telling ABC News at the time:
“Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit. His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”
Hayden has been profoundly affected by her brother’s death and opened up about it in an emotional interview.
In a 2024 sit-down with People, the Heroes alum told the outlet: “He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him. When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”
The clip from this interview — as well as another video shared from the same sit-down with the magazine — immediately sparked serious concern from both fans and celebrities, who were worried over Hayden’s demeanor and “slurred” speech in the footage.
Hayden, for her part, soon spoke out about her headspace during the interview.
“Grief looks different on everyone. Whether or not I am on medication is none of anyone’s business and is between me and my doctor,” she wrote via Instagram at the time, concluding the post by thanking her fans for support. “For those of you who have come to my defense amidst this chaos I am so grateful. Like I’ve said before, I am a work in progress. We all are. – Hayden.”
