Ice Princess fans are mourning the unfathomable death of Hayden Panettiere less than two years after the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg.
Emotional tributes for the former costars have filled social media after news broke that Panettiere died at age 36 on Sunday, August 16, following an apparent overdose.
“Our ice princesses are together again ❤️,” one wrote via TikTok, alongside a montage of their scenes. “They were my childhood 🥺.” Another social media user added, “Celebrity deaths don’t usually hit me so hard but we grew up with these girls… rest in peace Hayden and Michelle 🤍.”
More fans agreed that both Panettiere and Trachtenberg, the latter of whom died at age 39 in February 2025, were gone too soon. “R.I.P to both girls, both way too young and way too talented. 😭😭 Skate your hearts out together forever,” one wrote. A second commented, “They both died way too young 😭.” A third person also wrote, “I’m crying! Both young and deserved longer the absolute best 😭 RIP Princesses 😭.”
Panettiere and Trachtenberg played rival figure skaters-turned-friends in the 2005 Disney film Ice Princess. The movie starred Trachtenberg as Casey, a girl who becomes a skating pro by applying her knowledge of physics to the sport. As she quickly rises in the figure skating ranks, her skills catch the attention of coach Tina Harwood (played by Kim Cattrall), who also happens to be the mother of Casey’s rival, Gen (Panettiere).
Though Gen initially tries to sabotage Casey’s figure skating success, the two grow close as Gen realizes her passions are outside of the ice rink. The film also starred Joan Cusack and Trevor Blumas.
Cattrall, 69, was one of many celebrities who paid tribute to Panettiere after news of her sudden death. “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” she wrote. “Gone far too soon.”
Us learned that Panettiere’s autopsy has been completed and results are pending after a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office told Us, “No signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”
Just last year, police confirmed that Trachtenberg died after she was found unconscious in her New York City apartment on February 26. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner shared in April 2025 that her sudden death was a result of complications of diabetes mellitus.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” Trachtenberg’s rep said in a statement to Us. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Much like Panettiere, Trachtenberg rose to fame as a child star on shows such as Law & Order, Clarissa Explains It All and All My Children before booking her breakout film role in 1996’s Harriet the Spy.
She went on to star in many memorable TV shows and movies over the years, including Inspector Gadget, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, 17 Again and Mercy. She famously starred as Georgina Sparks on the hit teen drama Gossip Girl from 2008 to 2012 and reprised the character for the HBO revival in 2022 and 2023.
