The death of Jansen Panettiere, younger brother of actress Hayden Panettiere, from an enlarged heart has shocked and saddened the Panettiere family and Hollywood. The 28-year-old actor, artist and voice actor was found dead in his New York apartment on February 19th.
The Panettiere family shared a statement to ABC News, saying, “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.”
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Jansen’s friends became alarmed when he failed to show up to a business meeting on Sunday, February 19th. They went to his apartment where he was found unresponsive. Skip Panettiere, Jansen’s father, told authorizes he spoke to his son the night prior and everything sounded “okay”. No foul play was suspected.
Jansen had a promising career in Hollywood, beginning his career at a young age, following in his sister’s footsteps. Jansen appeared on shows such as The Walking Dead and Everybody Hates Chris, voiced a character in Ice Age: The Meltdown, and starred in the Nickelodeon film, The Last Day of Summer. He had four upcoming projects, according to IMDB.
The Panettiere family’s statement concluded, “Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
The sudden passing of Jansen Panettiere has been a devastating loss to the Panettiere family and to the Hollywood community. He will be remembered for his charisma, warmth, and creativity.
