Alexa PenaVega has paid tribute to three fellow former child stars who have died in recent years: Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Daveigh Chase. PenaVega, who rose to fame in the "Spy Kids" franchise, expressed her grief on Instagram, describing the actresses as more than just names from her childhood.

"Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh… My heart is heavy today," PenaVega wrote. "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."

She reflected on the pressures of child stardom, noting that "not everyone had the foundation or the support they deserved." PenaVega concluded her message by encouraging others to "hold your people close today."

Panettiere died in late 2026 at age 36. Her father confirmed her death, stating she was "an incredible light and a force of nature." A 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six indicated paramedics responded to a South Carolina apartment for a call about an "unidentified female" in "cardiac arrest," with CPR in progress for an apparent "overdose." Panettiere had been open in her memoir about her struggles with addiction stemming from the traumas of child stardom.

Daveigh Chase died on June 16, 2026, after a period of addiction and homelessness. Her primary cause of death was attributed to AIDS, with chronic polysubstance abuse as an underlying condition. Chase had been unhoused in Los Angeles, living on Skid Row.

Michelle Trachtenberg passed away in February 2025 at the age of 39. She died of complications from diabetes mellitus following a liver transplant within the past year. Trachtenberg was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment after going into cardiac arrest. Concerns about her health had been raised by fans in the months leading up to her death due to a gaunt appearance in a shared photograph.

Panettiere and Trachtenberg had co-starred in the 2005 Disney Channel movie "Ice Princess." All four actresses gained prominence on children's television in the early 2000s.

For those affected by issues raised in this story, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).