Courteney Cox remembers late 'Scream' co-star Hayden Panettiere as 'really fun and happy'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Courteney Cox has spoken about the death of her former ‘Scream’ co-star Hayden Panettiere nearly a month after her passing, reflecting on their time working together.

Cox and Panettiere first appeared together in 2011’s 'Scream 4', which marked Panettiere’s introduction to the franchise. The pair later reunited for 2023’s 'Scream 6', their final collaboration.

Courteney Cox remembers final 'Scream' collaboration with Hayden Panettiere

While reflecting on filming 'Scream 6' with Panettiere, Cox told Entertainment Weekly, “She’s a really wonderful actor. The last time I worked with her we had a great time. She was really fun and happy.”

Most recently, Panettiere's 'Heroes' co-stars held a reunion to celebrate her life. Alongside photos from the event, series star Jimmy Jean-Louis shared on X (formerly Twitter), “A ‘HEROES’ reunion to celebrate the life of HAYDEN was deeply emotional."

"There was sadness in our hearts, but also so much love, gratitude and warmth as we remembered the beautiful moments shared and the lasting impact of a life that touched so many. Au revoir Hayden,” he added. 

Jack Coleman, who played Panettiere’s father on the show, also shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, “I’m heartbroken. I couldn’t begin to put my thoughts into words until now, and they will be inadequate."

He recalled meeting her during the pilot of 'Heroes' 20 years earlier, saying she introduced herself by shouting “daddy” and embracing him. He added that she called him “daddio” and that he nicknamed her “Haydini” because “she was a magician.”

Tim Kring recalls Hayden Panettiere’s impact on 'Heroes'

'Heroes' creator Tim Kring also remembered Panettiere in an essay published by Variety. Kring described her as an “inspiration to work with” on the NBC series, which ran from 2006 to 2010.

“She was a delight to work with, professional, joyful and willing to go out on a limb and experiment with a scene,” he wrote. Kring said her “bull-in-a-china-shop quality” and determination influenced how her character was written.

Panettiere joined the show at 16 as cheerleader Claire Bennet. Kring said she had “no sense of jaded child actor quality” and possessed “a deep understanding of human nature that belied her age.” He recalled that she often made scenes “deeper, or funnier, or more powerful than it was on the page.”

Kring said he had not been in contact with her since 'Heroes' ended but later remembered her authenticity after reconnecting. When he contacted her agent about another project, Panettiere called him directly and teased, “You don’t have to call my agent. Don’t be Hollywood about it. Just pick up the phone and call me.”

He concluded that while he would remember her rare talent, he would also remember her as “a kind and gentle person who was always a joy and an inspiration to work with.”