Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Speaks About Estrangement After Actress’s Death

Lesley Vogel, the mother of actress Hayden Panettiere, has spoken publicly for the first time since her daughter’s death at age 36. In an emotional interview with Good Morning America, Vogel addressed criticism of her comments about Panettiere and discussed their difficult relationship in recent years.

Vogel said she was devastated when she learned that Panettiere had died on Aug. 16 after being found unresponsive at an apartment building in Greenville, South Carolina. “I was numb,” she said, adding that she still struggles to accept that her daughter is gone.

Vogel said her distrust of Panettiere’s former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, contributed to their estrangement. Hickerson has faced multiple arrests related to domestic violence allegations and served 45 days in jail in 2021. Vogel said she believed Panettiere was vulnerable when Hickerson entered her life and that she knew the relationship was harmful.

Vogel said she eventually told her daughter, on the advice of a therapist, that she could not maintain a relationship with her while Hickerson remained in her life. She said the two had grown apart but reconnected last year. Vogel recalled being devastated when Panettiere told her she planned to be with Hickerson again.

The interview also addressed Panettiere’s childhood career. Vogel said her daughter was happy before becoming a star on Heroes at 16, but she began noticing changes around age 17. Vogel disputed a claim in Panettiere’s 2026 memoir that she told her daughter, “You owe me,” when Panettiere decided to stop having her mother manage her career.

Vogel also defended her right to mourn privately after facing criticism for earlier comments that Panettiere had gone down “the wrong path.” She said appearances did not reflect the struggles her daughter was experiencing internally.

Panettiere had spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and opioids. Her official cause of death has not yet been released. The Greenville County coroner said there were no signs of trauma and that the investigation remains ongoing.