The passing of actress Hayden Panettiere on Sunday, August 16, left a deep impact on Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong shared that Panettiere had taken care of him as a child, having acted as his babysitter during his early years.
The news of her death came as a shock to many, especially those who knew her personally or had close connections with her, according to Yahoo Sports. Crow-Armstrong has since become known for his impressive performance this season, hitting .281 with 30 home runs and 78 RBIs.
His strong play has made him a top contender for the National League MVP award, competing against Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs’ overall success this year is also helping to boost Crow-Armstrong’s chances in the race for the MVP honor.
Crow-Armstrong grew up away from the spotlight of Hollywood, with his parents keeping him distant from that world. He once told a reporter that they chose not to live under any public attention or media scrutiny.
The relationship between Crow-Armstrong and Panettiere was more personal than professional, rooted in childhood memories. Panettiere’s sudden death at age 36 prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow celebrities alike.
A statement from her former boxing champion father, Wladimir Klitschko, expressed sorrow over the loss. Klitschko was present at a boxing match in Frankfurt on September 11, 2010, where Panettiere also attended.
In the days following her death, some close to her shared reflections about her life and recent struggles, according to a report from ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com. One person described how difficult it was for Panettiere to remain true to herself in later years.
That individual also mentioned her on-and-off relationship with Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly with her at her death.
IMAGE: Hayden Panettiere who plays Clare Bennet from the show Heroes. Photo: Raven Underwood – red eyes dany3000 / Wikimedia, taken 2007-04-15, CC BY 2.0