On what would have been Hayden Panettiere's 37th birthday, her ex-fiance, Wladimir Klitschko, remembers how they had originally planned to celebrate it with their 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleAugust 21, 2026 would have been Hayden Panettiere's 37th birthday, and the actress was excited to celebrate this day with her daughter in Europe. Unfortunately, the long-awaited meet-up never happened. In the wake of Hayden's death less than a week ago, her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, has penned an emotional tribute about their unfinished plans.
Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, just days before turning 37, after she was found unresponsive at a residence in South Carolina. Authorities have said that her official cause and manner of death remain unknown, pending further investigation and additional studies. There has been no official determination that an overdose caused her death.
Klitschko took to social media to remember the actress and mother of his child, revealing that they had planned to spend time together around her birthday. On August 21, 2026 (ET), the former heavyweight boxing champion shared a photo of Panettiere and paid tribute to the late actress, writing:
"Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world."
He also thanked Panettiere's friends, fans, and supporters for the messages sent to the family following her death. He encouraged people to be there with their loved ones and choose love and kindness, as nobody knows when their time on earth will be up. He wrote:
"At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity. If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it."
Wladimir ended his emotional tribute with a heartfelt wish to the late actress: "Happy Birthday, Hayden. [Red heart emoji] You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten."
According to a source cited by Page Six, Panettiere had been looking forward to spending her birthday week with Kaya in Germany. She welcomed Kaya with Wladimir in December 2014, and both parents had been actively involved in her upbringing even after their romantic relationship ended in 2018. The source said, "She was so excited to see her and was telling everyone how much she was looking forward to spending time with her."
Although their romantic relationship had ended years earlier, Klitschko made clear that Panettiere remained an important part of his life as the mother of their daughter. After her death, Wladimir wrote, "Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya."
Wladimir also reflected on the actress's glorious career and the challenges she faced away from the spotlight, writing that she “built an incredible career through immense talent” while also confronting "the darker sides of a very demanding industry.”
After Hayden's passing, Klitschko promised to keep her memory alive and make sure that Kaya remembers the amazing person Hayden was. He wrote in his message: "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was."
Panettiere and Klitschko met in 2009 and had an on-and-off relationship before getting engaged in 2013. They welcomed Kaya in December 2014 but ultimately separated in 2018. Following their split, Klitschko took full custody of Kaya as Panettiere struggled with postpartum depression, addiction and alcoholism.
In her interviews earlier this year, Panettiere spoke candidly about how painful that decision had been and stressed that it was made during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Panettiere also explained that once she became healthier, she did not want to disrupt the life Kaya had built with her father.
Happy heavenly birthday, Hayden.
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