On what would have been the day that Hayden Panettiere turned 37, her ex Wladimir Klitschko has paid tribute to her with a heartbreaking message on social media18:34, 21 Aug 2026Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko has written a heartbreaking message to the late mother of his child as her 37th birthday comes just days after her death.‌The actress died on Sunday in her own home in South Carolina. She was in a relationship with boxer Klitschko from 2009 to 2019 and they shared a daughter, Kaya, together, who was born in 2014.‌At the time of her death, Klitschko paid tribute to Panettiere, sharing that he and his daughter were "going through a time of profound shock and grief". He has now shared another tribute to his ex, saying she would "never be forgotten".‌He shared a picture on Instagram with a post on her 37th birthday. Sharing a picture of Panettiere, he said: "Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.‌"I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support. At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity."Addressing his followers, he added: "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."Turning back to his ex, he finished: "Happy Birthday, Hayden. [Red heart emoji] You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten."‌A number of well-known names went to the comments of the post to share their own tributes to Panettiere. Selma Blair wrote: "Happy birthday Hayden. I am so grateful you have such a wonderful daughter. So much love. Love." Her Nashville co-star Sam Palladio added: "Sending love on this sad day."Panettiere was a huge star of the 2000s and 2010s. She was a child star, landing roles in soap operas and 2000 sport drama Remember the Titans. She ten landed a lead role in superhero series Heroes and starred in six seasons of country music drama Nashville. She also starred in cheerleader film Bring It On: All or Nothing, drama Raising Helen and a few of the Scream films.Article continues belowYears later, she revealed that she battled addiction throughout her 20s due to the pressures of finding fame at an early age. She also dealt with post-partum depression following the birth of her daughter, whom she later gave full custody of to Klitschko.Since her death, a criminal investigation has reportedly been launched into what happened. Her cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but the Coroner's office previously confirmed that her autopsy showed 'no signs of trauma'. She was found at home with ex boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zack, who discovered her unresponsive and called the police.Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .