Blake Lively shared a tribute to Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg, who died just 18 months apart, and asked fans to “be kind.”
The It Ends with Us actress, 38, shared a heartfelt message about the late stars on her Instagram Stories a day after Panettiere’s shocking death at the age of 36 on Sunday.
Former child stars Panettiere and Trachtenberg famously shared the screen in Disney’s 2005 hit Ice Princess. Trachtenberg – who passed away last February at the age of 39 – also co-starred with Lively in the hit show Gossip Girl.
Lively shared a montage of clips from Ice Princess, writing, “Be. Friendly. You never know what others are going through.’
“Thank you to both women for all the joy you have brought to so many,” she added.
Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. Narcan was found in the apartment where she died, it was reported, after the Heroes actress suffered an apparent overdose.
Blake Lively, 38, shared a tribute to Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg, who died just 18 months apart, and asked fans to ‘be kind’; Vivid images in 2025
Lively shared a montage of clips from the 2005 film Ice Princess, writing: “Be. Friendly. You never know what others are going through. Thank you to both women for all the joy you have brought to so many.”
Her sudden death came 18 months after Trachtenberg died in February. It was later confirmed that her cause of death was due to complications from diabetes mellitus.
Panettiere and Trachtenberg were already established child stars when they joined forces in Ice Princess.
Directed by Tim Fywell, the coming-of-age sports drama centers on high school student Casey, played by Trachtenberg, who discovers a hidden passion for figure skating while researching a physics project.
Panettiere played the role of Gen, the daughter of local rink manager Tina Harwood, played by Kim Cattrall.
Tina initially wants to sabotage the newcomer to help her own daughter. But the rivals eventually forge a bond, with Gen helping Casey find her confidence.
Following news of Panettiere’s death, her on-screen mother Cattrall took to her Instagram to share a photo of them together, writing, “Rest in peace dear Hayden.” Gone way too soon.’
The film grossed $25.7 million during its theatrical run, with both Panettiere and Trachtenberg coming to define 2000s teen cinema and youth pop culture.
In 2011, six years after making Ice Princess, Panettiere and Trachtenberg were reunited at a charity fashion event in New York City.
Former child stars Panettiere and Trachtenberg famously shared the screen in the beloved 2005 Disney film
Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36; Above the two actresses in 2011
Narcan was found in the apartment where she died, after the actress suffered an apparent overdose; In the photo in 2022
Last year, Lively shared a tribute to Trachtenberg, following her sudden death at the age of 39; the two seen in 2009
Reflecting on their first day together on the set of the CW series, Lively posted a photo of Michelle, who she described as “fiercely loyal,” “kind” and “very sensitive.”
‘Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the most at anyone’s joke, she confronted authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work,” Lively wrote; the two seen in a still from Gossip Girl
They attended the star-studded unveiling of Stuart Weitzman’s Young Hollywood Cares Collection, a charity shoe line co-created by young stars to benefit ovarian cancer research.
The former co-stars both beamed as they posed together on the red carpet.
Both actresses launched their careers as child stars, with Trachtenberg starring in Harriet the Spy and Panettiere gaining worldwide fame in Remember the Titans alongside Denzel Washington.
They later cemented their status as TV icons in major shows, with Trachtenberg starring in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Panettiere in Heroes and Nashville.
Tributes have been paid to both co-stars following Panettiere’s death.
One fan on I’m so sad, I can’t believe this, my ice princesses are both gone.’
Another fan wrote, “Now they’re both together.”
“Two beautiful souls, two faces we watched growing up, and memories that will live on forever through the characters they brought to life. Some moments from our childhood become so much more emotional when you realize how precious those moments really were. Rest in peace.’
“My sweet young girls,” someone else added.
‘Hayden Panettiere is now in heaven skating next to Michelle Trachtenberg. rest in peace, beautiful angels.’
“Both Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere are gone… this hurts so much,” wrote another.
On Monday, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said Panettiere’s autopsy was completed and no signs of trauma were found on the star’s body.
Further investigations will now take place to determine her cause of death, with Deputy Chief Coroner Shelton England telling the Daily Mail it was too early to discuss the drug overdose theory.
It was later confirmed that Trachtenberg’s cause of death was due to complications from diabetes mellitus; She is pictured in 2023
It is still unclear whether the Narcan found in the apartment where she died was used to revive Panettiere, although 911 audio obtained earlier on Monday showed the actress had gone into cardiac arrest after a suspected overdose.
Meanwhile, Rosie O’Donnell claimed last month that Trachtenberg was battling drug and alcohol addiction before her shock death at the age of 39 in February 2025.
Trachtenberg was found dead by her mother in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle, police sources told ABC News at the time.
It was further reported that the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant after battling alcohol issues and ‘possibly experiencing complications’. It was later confirmed that her cause of death was due to complications from diabetes mellitus.
