‘Spy Kids’ Actor Alexa PenaVega Shares Heartbreak After Deaths of Fellow Child Stars Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase: ‘Hug Your People Close Today’ - Variety

"Spy Kids" actor Alexa PenaVega shared a heartfelt social media statement expressing grief after the death of Hayden Panettiere, marking the third loss of a fellow child star in 2026.
PenaVega mourned Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase together, describing them not as mere names but as girls she grew up alongside in a Hollywood world she called both exciting and incredibly hard. All three died in their 30s between February and August.
She reflected on the challenges of childhood stardom, noting that "not everyone had the foundation or support they deserved," and urged followers to "hug your people close today" while thinking of those fighting unseen battles.
The four actors came of age together in Hollywood during the 2000s, frequently photographed at premieres; Chase and PenaVega shared part of Disney's "Freaky Friday" red carpet in 2003, and PenaVega attended the premiere of Panettiere's "Raising Helen" in 2004.
Panettiere died Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at age 36, with police reporting no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances as her death remains under investigation. She was known for "Heroes" and "Nashville," and earlier work including "A Bug's Life" and "Remember the Titans."
Trachtenberg also began as a child actor, appearing in the '90s Nickelodeon series "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" before later family roles.