Alexa PenaVega mourned the deaths of her fellow former child stars Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase, all of whom died within the last two years.
“Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh… My heart is heavy today,” the actress began in a Tuesday Instagram post. “These aren’t just names from my childhood. They’re girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard.
“We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or the support they deserved.
Alexa PenaVega mourned the deaths of fellow former child stars Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase. (Pictured: PenaVega and Chase at the 2003 “Freaky Friday” premiere.) WireImage
“We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or the support they deserved,” she penned in her emotional tribute. vegaalexa/Instagram
“Today, I’m grieving and holding their families close in my prayers and thinking of everyone still fighting battles we can’t see Hug your people close today,” she concluded.
PenaVega, now 37, rose to fame on Disney Channel starring in the “Spy Kids” franchise. Panettiere, Trachtenberg and Chase also starred on the children’s network in the early aughts.
Panettiere and Trachtenberg even co-starred in the 2005 Disney Channel original movie “Ice Princess.”
PenaVega’s emotional tribute comes two days after Hayden’s father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death to Page Six. She was 36.
All four women starred on Disney Channel in the early aughts, shooting them to stardom. (Pictured: PenaVega and Chasein 2006.) Getty Images
Panettiere and Trachtenberg (pictured in 2011) even co-starred in the 2005 Disney Channel film “Ice Princess.” Getty Images for Stuart Weitzman
“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her on-screen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss,” his statement read.
Earlier in the day, paramedics had responded to a South Carolina apartment regarding a call about an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest,” per a 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six.
According to the audio, “CPR [was] in progress” for an apparent “overdose,” but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
In her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning, the “Remember the Titans” star had been open about how the traumas of child stardom had manifested into addiction problems and other struggles in adulthood.
PenaVega’s death comes two days after Panettiere (seen above in May) died of an apparent “overdose” after years of struggling from her time in Hollywood. GC Images
Chase (pictured in 2013) died in June after years of addiction and homelessness. Her primary cause of death was AIDS. WireImage
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Chase died on June 16 following years of addiction issues and was “unhoused in Los Angeles,” living on the notorious Skid Row.
Her cause of death was attributed to AIDS, with an underlying condition of chronic polysubstance abuse.
As for Trachtenberg, she passed away in February 2025 at 39.
Trachtenberg (pictured in 2023) died of complications from diabetes mellitus at age 39. WWD via Getty Images
She had sparked concern amongst her fans in the months leading up to her death because of her gaunt appearance. michelletrachtenberg/Instagram
The “Gossip Girl” alum was found dead after going into cardiac arrest in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle.
She died of complications from diabetes mellitus after receiving a liver transplant within the last year.
Trachtenberg had also sparked concerns about her health when she appeared gaunt in a photo shared before her death.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
