Jansen Panettiere, Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother, died suddenly in February 2023 at age 28. His family later said that the medical examiner determined he had cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, along with aortic valve complications. His death was classified as natural causes.
Who was Jansen Panettiere?
Like his sister, Jansen worked as an actor from a young age. He appeared in projects including Tiger Cruise , The Last Day of Summer and The Perfect Game. He also pursued visual art and shared his paintings and drawings publicly. Jansen and Hayden were reportedly close, and she described him as one of the most important people in her life. His death came shortly before the release of Scream VI , in which Hayden made a brief return to the franchise.
What caused his death?
Jansen died at his home in New York on February 19, 2023. The family initially did not publicly explain what had happened, but later released a statement saying the medical examiner had identified cardiomegaly and aortic valve complications as the causes. There’s no reliable evidence that his death was connected to rumors about substance use or other speculation.
How did Hayden respond?
Hayden later spoke openly about the devastating effect of losing her brother. In a 2024 interview, she said she would always be heartbroken over his death and discussed how difficult it had been to process the loss.
She also remembered Jansen on social media and described the bond they shared. Her public comments focused on grief and love for her brother, rather than on unconfirmed theories surrounding his death. Jansen’s passing was sudden, and the confirmed medical explanation was a heart condition involving an enlarged heart and aortic valve complications.