A very sad way to begin the year for the friends and families of Jansen Panettiere, who lost his life over the weekend. The 28-year-old is the brother of Hayden Panettiere, and this sudden death is terrible news to us all.
Keep reading for the details.
A source close to the family revealed to TMZ that the actor passed away in New York, and the current cause of his death is unknown.
At about 5:30 pm on Sunday night, law enforcement agencies got a call to the residence.
So far, local authorities have declared that they sense no foul play in Jansen's shocking passing.
The star, who's just 5 years younger than big sister Hayden entered the entertainment industry in the early 2000s as he worked on movies like Even Stevens, Blue's Clues, Robots, and Ice Age: The Meltdown.
He also repeatedly appeared as Truman X and Nickelodeon's "The X's"
He teamed up with Hayden in 2004 for Tiger Cruise and in 2005 for Racing Stripes
He starred in Disney Channel Original movies and Nickelodeon Tv films. He even got nominated for a Young Artist Award in 2008 for his tremendous work on "The Last Day of Summer."
Two weeks before his passing, the actor shared a picture of himself with a friend as they spray-painted a stone facade in the woods in Nyack, New York. He captioned the picture, "Graffiti is illegal"
The late actor referred to big sister Hayden as an inspiration back in 2007 in an interview with TV Guide. They have maintained a close relationship over the years, even though they argue, fight, and disagree sometimes.
The late actor has over 13000 followers on his Instagram, where he shares updates about his life with them from time to time.
While he didn't achieve as much fame as a big sister, he has, however, starred in major movies, including The Babysitters, How High 2, The Perfect Game, Summer Forever, and The Forger. He also appeared in The Walking Dead, which was an internet sensation.
He began a GoFundMe on March 26, 2020, for paint supplies with a goal of $1,500 to purchase art supplies. He ultimately reached his goal and raised over $2,125.
"I'm a 25-year-old, struggling and starving painter. Rough around the edges but stars in my eyes. I love painting more than anything on earth. I'm an artist. I've never been so passionate and certain about anything before. Art is my therapy and has saved my life more than once..." he wrote in the description and also promised to send free paintings to those who showed support.
He is survived by his mother, Lesley, and his father, Skip. He also leaves behind his sister Hayden and niece Kaya Evdokia.
Jensen was a jack of many trades, he started a website where he sold merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, backpacks, and shoes with 3% of all purchases going to a fundraiser for Ukranians.
The 28-year-old's partner Catherine Michie shared an emotional post on her Instagram yesterday for the actor. She referred to him as her best friend and biggest fan.
"...Words cannot express the pain of knowing I won’t hear your laugh again. I hope you find peace, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me most. The world is better because you were in it. I know we will paint together again someday. I’ll always be your sugarpop. Someone wake me up and tell me this is a dream. Love you, Bubbles."
He had a few projects in the works before he passed away, including American Game and Horse.
The actor appeared in Everybody Hates Chris, Major Crimes, The Perfect Game, 8, Summer Forever, The Martial Arts Kids, Del Playa, How High 2, and Love and Love Not.
The actor was born on Sept.25. 1994 in Palisades, New York.
Just last month, Jansen shared a picture of Hayden attempting to cut his hair.
“Not the first haircut she’s tried to give me."
