Brittany Snow is remembering Hayden Panettiere as a determined performer and supportive friend following the actress’ death at age 36. The “Pitch Perfect” star shared an emotional tribute to Panettiere, with whom she worked on both the long-running soap opera “Guiding Light” and the “Kingdom Hearts” video game franchise. Snow reflected on playing Panettiere’s sister for three years and revealed that she saw parts of herself in her former co-star, even if she never expressed those feelings directly.
Snow posted her tribute to Instagram Stories on Monday, August 17, praising Panettiere’s talent, personality and resilience. “I was lucky enough to play your sister for 3 years,” Snow wrote. “I related to you so much in so many ways. Ways that I never even told you. Your talent was remarkable & so was your determination to be a bold, bright shining light. And you were.”
She continued, “Always supportive, curious, funny and brave. You will always be remembered undoubtedly for your undeniable strength and spirit.”
Snow and Panettiere worked together as young actresses on “Guiding Light.” Snow portrayed Susan “Daisy” Lemay, while Panettiere played Lizzie Spaulding. Their connection later extended into the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise, although their roles did not directly overlap. Snow voiced Namine, while Panettiere became the original English-language voice of Kairi.
Hayden Panettiere Helped Bring Kairi To Life
Panettiere voiced Kairi in the original “Kingdom Hearts” and returned for “Kingdom Hearts II,” helping establish one of the Disney and Square Enix franchise’s central characters. Kairi is closely connected to protagonist Sora and his friend and rival Riku, making her a significant part of the series’ emotional core. Alyson Stoner later stepped into the role at different points before Panettiere returned. Stoner ultimately voiced Kairi in 2019’s “Kingdom Hearts III.”
Following Panettiere’s death, Stoner recorded a tearful message acknowledging the loss felt by the actress’ loved ones and the gaming community. “Hey, this is very raw. It’s very messy, and please give me some grace. I wanted to acknowledge Hayden’s passing,” she began. “I’ve worked with Hayden, I’ve worked with Hayden’s brother Jansen [who died in 2023 from a heart condition], and from one Kairi to another, I just wanted to acknowledge the tremendous loss, not only for the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ family but of course all of the close loved ones and the millions of lives Hayden reached.
“Sending so much love to Hayden’s family,” she continued, fighting back tears. “I’ll be thinking of Hayden and the legacy that she has left, and sending lots of love to the Kingdom Hearts community too, and how we’re sharing in this loss.”
‘Kingdom Hearts’ Pays Tribute To Its Original Kairi
The official “Kingdom Hearts” social media accounts also honored Panettiere and recognized what her performance brought to the role. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Hayden Panettiere,” the statement begins. “Through her performance as Kairi, Hayden brought warmth, heart, and an unforgettable voice to the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ series. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and loved ones.”
The tribute arrived during an emotional moment for the franchise. Fans had just received several major updates about “Kingdom Hearts IV” during Disney’s D23 event, including a new trailer and confirmation that the game is expected to arrive in 2027. The footage revealed that Sora will travel to a world inspired by Pixar’s “Coco.” It also included playable segments featuring Mickey, Donald and Goofy, along with the anticipated return of Riku.
‘Kingdom Hearts’ Reunion Takes On Somber Meaning After Hayden Panettiere’s Death
During the “Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts” panel, longtime English voice actors Haley Joel Osment and David Gallagher appeared together to discuss their respective roles as Sora and Riku. The actors, who began voicing the characters as teenagers, also delivered their first live performance together as Sora and Riku in the franchise’s 25-year history.
The celebratory moment took on a more somber meaning following the death of Panettiere, whose voice helped shape the earliest chapters of the series.
Hayden Panettiere Also Starred In ‘Until Dawn’
“Kingdom Hearts” was not Panettiere’s only major video game role. The actress portrayed Samantha Giddings in the cinematic survival-horror game “Until Dawn,” appearing alongside a cast that included Rami Malek, Brett Dalton, Jordan Fisher and Peter Stormare.
Released as an interactive horror experience, the game allowed players’ decisions to determine which characters survived the night. Panettiere’s character emerged as one of its most recognizable figures. “Until Dawn” was adapted into a movie in 2025, although Panettiere did not appear in the film. A sequel to the game is scheduled for release in 2027.
