Hilary Duff Remembers Hayden Panettiere in Emotional Tribute

Hilary Duff has paid tribute to actress Hayden Panettiere, remembering their friendship and the unique bond they shared as young stars in Hollywood.

Duff, 38, shared her message on Instagram Tuesday, two days after Panettiere died at the age of 36. Although the two actresses lost touch over the years, Duff said she would always remember Panettiere as hardworking, energetic and warm.

“Sweet Hayden. Really tough hearing this news,” Duff wrote. She recalled the nights they spent talking and gossiping about their experiences growing up in the entertainment industry.

Duff said they understood each other because they were among a small group of young people trying to navigate the unusual pressures of fame at an early age.

“I so deeply wish this wasn’t the end for you,” Duff wrote, sending love to Panettiere’s family, friends and everyone who knew her.

Duff and Panettiere never appeared together in a major film or television project, but they were photographed together at several events over the years.

Both actresses began working in Hollywood as children. Duff became a household name as the star of Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” which premiered in 2001 when she was 13. Panettiere began acting even earlier and gained widespread attention for her role as Sheryl Yoast in the 2000 Disney film “Remember the Titans,” when she was 10.

Tributes from friends, family and fellow entertainers have followed Panettiere’s death. According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, emergency responders were called to an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday for an unidentified woman reportedly suffering cardiac arrest following an overdose.

Paramedics attempted to revive Panettiere using CPR, chest compressions and advanced cardiac life support. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. local time.

Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke about her daughter’s death Tuesday, reflecting on the challenges faced by young performers who grow up in the entertainment industry.

“I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments,” Vogel told NBC News. She added that the entertainment industry can be difficult for young people and that some sadly struggle to find the right path.

Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, also remembered his daughter as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and happiness to those around her.

The family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of the actress, who was known for roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville” and for a career that began when she was a child.