Hayden Panettiere Remembered as ‘Prodigious Talent’ and ‘Extraordinary Young Woman’

As Hollywood and fans mourn the death of Hayden Panettiere, her Heroes on-screen dad, Jack Coleman, is recalling the late actress’ talent and heart.

Coleman, who starred as Claire’s (Panettiere) father Noah Bennett on the NBC superhero drama, remembered Panettiere as a ‘prodigious talent’ and ‘extraordinary young woman’ in a heartfelt statement after her death at the age of 36.

‘I’m heartbroken,’ Coleman began on Instagram. ‘I couldn’t begin to put my thoughts into words until now, and they will be inadequate.’

Coleman shared a personal anecdote about Panettiere, recalling the day she introduced herself by shouting ‘daddy’ and throwing her arms around him on the set of the Heroes pilot 20 years ago.

‘From that day on, she called me daddio,’ Coleman said. ‘She was Haydini, because she was a magician.’

Coleman continued to praise Panettiere’s talent, recalling a scene where she was required to cry on the same line, take after take. ‘A tear rolled down her cheek,’ Coleman said. ‘I marveled at her technique. ‘It’s not technique,’ she corrected me. ‘I’m not a trained seal. I feel it and the tears just happen to come at that moment.’ She was 16.’

Coleman also addressed the challenges Panettiere faced in her personal life, including the scrutiny of the press and the constant attention of paparazzi.

‘She was hunted,’ Coleman recalled. ‘Everywhere she went, there were photographers with 300 millimeter lenses—the kind that can make even the most innocent activity look sinister.’

Coleman spoke out against the misogynistic provocations of the press, saying, ‘The members of the press who routinely asked obnoxious questions, mostly some version of ‘when are you going to go off the rails?’ Today, we’d recognize those questions for the misogynistic provocations they were.’

Coleman’s statement also highlighted Panettiere’s kind and compassionate nature, recalling how she championed her co-star, Tess, when she was being bullied.

‘She brought joy to the set and a photographic memory,’ Coleman continued. ‘Everyone was in awe of her ability to bring it every take. A tiny colossus who loved to laugh. We laughed a lot. That shining face, that megawatt smile, that wasn’t just for the camera. That was her. She glowed.’

Coleman concluded his statement by expressing his love and admiration for Panettiere, saying, ‘I love you, Hayden. I’ll miss you. I’m so sorry you suffered. I’ll remember how happy you were on set and on the European press tour; how you championed Tess when she was being bullied; your commitment to animal welfare and the courage to put yourself in harm’s way to protect them. I only wish you had been given that same protection.’

Coleman’s heartfelt tribute to Panettiere serves as a poignant reminder of the actress’ talent, kindness, and resilience in the face of adversity.