Actress Hilary Duff has paid tribute to fellow former child star Hayden Panettiere following her death at age 36 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Panettiere died on Sunday after being found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville following a suspected overdose that caused cardiac arrest.
Writing on Instagram on Tuesday, Duff touched on their past friendship when both were rising young performers navigating Hollywood.
"Sweet Hayden," the 38-year-old actress wrote, calling the news "really tough" to hear.
Duff admitted that the pair had lost touch over the years, but said she would always remember Panettiere as "so hardworking and effervescent, with that big, gorgeous smile."
Childhood Friends in Hollywood
Duff recalled staying up late with Panettiere, chatting, gossiping, and connecting as young performers in the entertainment industry. She noted that they belonged to a small group of people who understood the unique lot in life they were navigating.
Reflecting on their early years, Duff wrote that at the time they were "so young, with no real idea how to make sense of any of it."
Both performers achieved stardom around the same era. Duff starred as the lead in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire beginning in 2001, and went on to appear in feature films such as the 2003 comedy Cheaper by the Dozen and the 2004 teen film A Cinderella Story.
Panettiere established her early acting career on television soap operas, including One Life to Live and Guiding Light, before landing a prominent role in the 2000 biographical sports drama film Remember the Titans.
Concluding her emotional post, Duff wrote: "I so deeply wish this wasn't the end for you. Sending a heart full of love to your family, the many people you impacted and everyone who loved you. Rest easy."
The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Duff for further comment on the story, but has yet to hear back.
Industry Tributes and Shared Tragedies
Duff was one of several peers to publicly mourn Panettiere following news of her death.
Actress Alexa PenaVega, 37, remembered Panettiere while referencing two other prominent child stars who died prematurely earlier this year, Michelle Trachtenberg in February at age 39, and Daveigh Chase in June at age 35.
"These aren't just names from my childhood," PenaVega said. "They're girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard. We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or support they deserved."
PenaVega added: "Today, I'm grieving and holding their families close in my prayers and thinking of everyone still fighting battles we can't see. Hug your people close today."
Singer and actress Solange Knowles, 40, mourned her late co-star from the 2006 cheerleading film Bring It On: All or Nothing. Knowles wrote: "Rest in peace Hayden.. in peace, because you are so deserving of it.. We had so many parallels in our lives, and the world watched u so courageously live in your radical truth telling your story. We watched your endless quest for vulnerability, and healing."
Media personality Paris Hilton, 45, described Panettiere in a social media tribute as "so talented, strong, kind and full of so much love and light." Hilton added: "I'll always cherish our friendship, all the memories we shared, and the special moments we had together."
Actress Emma Roberts, 35, also shared her grief, writing: "Rest in peace my sweet friend. You are so loved and you will be forever missed."
The public tributes follow previously reported details about Panettiere's personal life, including a secret romance with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson's brother.
Official Police Investigation
Panettiere's death was officially announced on Sunday by her father, Skip Panettiere, in a family statement.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," Skip Panettiere said. "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her, and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, said officials responded to a local apartment after receiving a report of an unresponsive female following a possible drug overdose, later identified as Panettiere.
Emergency officials attempted lifesaving measures before declaring the actress deceased. Investigators stated that no signs of trauma or foul play were found, and the official inquiry into her death remains ongoing.
