Hayden Panettiere is an actress who is best known for her roles Claire Bennet on the NBC superhero series “Heroes” and Juliette Barnes in the drama series “Nashville.”Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, was also an actor. Sadly, however, he died suddenly on February 19th.
“Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit,” his family told Fox News Digital in a statement. His family added, “His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”
The family then gave some insight into the cause of his passing, saying “Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications.”
The family then said “We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support towards our family as we navigate this unthinkable loss, and ask that we be gifted our privacy during this time of mourning. We love you so much Jansen and you will be in our hearts forever.”
Describing what the scene of his passing was like, Fox News Digital reports that:
The Orangetown Police Department’s initial report from the scene, obtained by Fox News Digital, showed officers responded to Jansen’s apartment in Nyack, New York, shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 on report of an “unresponsive male with CPR in progress.”
When officers arrived at the home, Benjamin Brown, a friend of Jansen, was performing CPR on the actor, who was laying on his back on the living room floor. Jansen was reportedly not breathing and was cold to the touch with lividity. He was pronounced dead at 5:11 p.m. by a responding EMT.
It is, as of now, unclear when Jansen developed the heart condition. No statement has detailed whether it was a condition he was born with or if something caused him to develop it more recently. Further, it is not clear if the family knew about the condition or if it came as a surprise when he passed.
A different article in Fox News Digital gave some background on Jansen’s acting career and what recognizable roles he had, saying:
Jansen – who is five years younger than his sister – followed in Hayden’s footsteps and started his acting career in the early 2000s. He appeared in “Even Stevens,” “The Walking Dead” and “Perfect Game.”
Hayden and Jansen worked together in 2004 on “Tiger Cruise” and again in 2005 on “Racing Stripes.”
Jansen also had a recurring role as Truman X in Nickelodeon’s “The X’s,” an animation series that premiered in 2005.
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