“I Keep Him in My Heart”: Hayden Panettiere Pays Tribute to Late Younger Brother

On the first anniversary of her little brother’s unexpected death, Hayden Panettiere is paying tribute to her younger sibling on social media.

Jansen Panettiere died at the age of 28 over Presidents Day weekend from aortic valve complications and an enlarged heart, their parents said in a message to the press at the time. On Monday, Panettiere, 34, took to her Instagram to share her memories and continuing love for her late baby brother. 

“Today is the 1 year anniversary of my little brother’s passing. Know that I keep him in my heart, keep his things close. His AMAZING paintings are what I see when I wake up and when I go to sleep. Rest in peace my brother. One day we’ll meet again,” she wrote.

An outpouring of support came online for the Nashville and Heroes star when the news broke of Jansen’s death, and her fans were back in the comments of her Instagram post, which features an image of the star and Jansen on a beach, petting a dog while wearing wet suits; Panettiere later returned to her Instagram post to comment: “Thank you so much for ur love.” 

A February 2023 police report states that Jansen’s friend told investigators that after he was a no-show for a business meeting, the pal had gone to check on him in his New York apartment. There, Jansen was reportedly discovered “sitting upright in a chair unresponsive” and later pronounced dead by first responders.

Though they had a five-year age difference, the siblings had a close relationship as they both pursued acting careers. The two worked together in the family features Tiger Cruise in 2004 and Racing Stripes the following year. In 2006, Panettiere’s career took off with the premiere of Heroes, where she portrayed one of the hit series’ main characters.

Jansen carried on with acting, appearing in The Walking Dead, Perfect Game and How High 2, but also pursued life as an artist. His vibrant paintings can still be seen on his Instagram page.

Tuesday’s tribute is the second time his older sister has paid tribute to him online. In September, on what would have been his 29th birthday, Panettiere wrote on Instagram: “Happy Birthday little brother. I miss you every day. I’ll love you forever.”