Hayden Panettiere is still inconsolable by the loss of Jansen, her younger brother, who died last weekend at 28. The 33-year-old actress is mourning the loss of her brother, according to those close to her.
According to a source who spoke to Entertainment Tonight, “Hayden is absolutely heartbroken. She loved her brother unconditionally, and the two shared a special bond.”
Actress Hayden Panettiere is grieving the loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who passed away at the age of 28 (Credit: Adam Nemser / Startraksphoto / Cover Images)
The source said, “Jansen suffered from mental health issues, and art was his therapy and escape. In the past, Jansen was open to family and friends about his struggles. Hayden was always there for him and constantly tried to help Jansen when she could.”
Jansen’s New York residence called the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) at around 5:30 p.m., which the family verified to TMZ.
According to the police report, one of Jansen’s friends told detectives that Jansen was scheduled to attend the meeting on Sunday. When he didn’t arrive, they speculated that something could be wrong.
The friends then proceeded to his residence, where they discovered him lifeless and sitting erect in a chair. They contacted 911 and began performing CPR.
Hayden Panettiere had a special bond with her brother, who had struggled with mental health issues in the past (Credit: S_Bukley / Shutterstock)
Jansen’s father claimed he called him and said everything was “okay” the night before he passed away. A few more weeks will be before the toxicology and autopsy reports are finished.
His artist biography on his website detailed his journey as an artist. “After spending time in LA as an adult, he was ridden with terrible anxiety and depression; this period in his life eventually produced a spiritual clarity that drove him to start painting his problems, one by one.”
In a series of Medium blog entries published in 2019, Jansen detailed his journey into the arts. He wrote, “I’m a painter now. I’ve painted for most of my life, but only as of recent have I self identified with the practice. It’s my therapy.”
Jansen talked about what it’s like to have anxiety and depression, saying, “Those of you whom understand anxiety and depression know that it’s like suffocating. It’s like searching for a breath of cool air in a steam room.”
Hayden Panettiere picks up her brother Jansen Panettiere from school in Los Angeles on December 12, 2007 (Credit: Stefan / INFphoto)
He continued, “When I’m depressed, I do what most other people do, drugs. Alcohol, pot, kratom, ect. They work most of time. I get really depressed sometimes. The kind of depression that no matter the quantity of whatever chemicals I imbibe will simply never be enough.”
Painting helped him with his problems, saying, “I paint. I paint my problems. It gives me a sense of ultimate purpose. In a world hypnotized by vanity fueled with comparison, art is my escape.”
Hayden and her younger brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere, at a screening of Freestyle Releasing’s “Sharkwater Extinction” at the ArcLight Hollywood on January 31, 2019, in Hollywood, California (Credit: WENN)
Jansen’s passing is a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and seeking help when struggling with mental health issues.
Having a support system and seeking professional help when needed is essential. Hayden’s love for her brother and her efforts to help him testify to the importance of family and the power of love.
In memory of Jansen Panettiere, let us continue raising awareness of mental health issues and supporting struggling individuals. May his legacy live on through his art and the impact he made on those who knew and loved him.