Former Disney star Christy Carlson Romano is reflecting on child stardom just days after her peer, Hayden Panettiere, died suddenly at 36. In a personal essay, the “Even Stevens” actress compared child stardom to the deadly brain disease CTE.
Romano knows a thing or two about being a child star. In addition to working alongside Shia LaBeouf on “Even Stevens,” the actress appeared in her own series, “Kim Possible,” and the Disney Channel original film “Cadet Kelly.”
In a personal essay for Elle, Romano said nothing can prepare children for what it’s like to be famous at such a young age. “The former child actor exists in a category the world does not know how to hold,” she wrote. “We are children when the public wants to feel protective of us, professionals when the industry wants to profit from us, and spoiled celebrities when we eventually show symptoms of having been both.”
Romano, 42, said fame at an early age is comparable to “CTE,” the deadly brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. “Not as a diagnosis. As a way of thinking about repeated impact,” Romano added.
Hayden Panettiere Was Pronounced Dead At A South Carolina Residence In August 2026
Romano’s comments come just days after Panettiere was pronounced dead at a South Carolina residence in August 2026. First responders said that they were responding to a call about a person suffering a “cardiac arrest.”
Panettiere’s father released a statement to the media after her death, calling her an “incredible light and a force of nature.” He added that his daughter, who began acting at the age of 1, “brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.”
Romano Is ‘Crushed’ Over Panettiere’s Death
Romano went even further about the harsh reality of being a child star in her personal essay, saying that while child actors are seen as “lucky” and “cute,” she said their labor “powers one of the most profitable storytelling machines in the world,” leaving some of them struggling with their mental health.
Regarding Panettiere’s death, Romano admitted she was “crushed” and deeply saddened by the news. “Another performer I grew up with, gone too soon,” she wrote.
Months before her death, Panettiere reflected on living her life in the spotlight from an early age and told Jay Shetty that it was really all she knew. According to the “Heroes” actress, acting was forced upon her almost instantly.
“I think it’s the way I was raised,” she said. “I was groomed. I was like a little soldier and I always have been. No was never an option. It was just, ‘Here are your scenes, here’s your dialogue, memorize it, hit the marks, do what your director tells you to do.’ I took my marching orders.”
Panettiere’s Relationship With Her Mother Was Painful
Panettiere detailed her time as a child star in her book, “This Is Me,” and said she felt the pressure to be top tier. Elsewhere in the memoir, the “Remember the Titans” actress opened up about her rocky relationship with her mother, Lesley, and said that disappointing her with a lackluster audition felt like “a fate worse than death.”
“When she was irritated, she opened her mouth ever so slightly. When she was mad, she clenched her jaw. When she was so angry that my best option was to hide under my bed, her lower jaw migrated a few centimeters forward. I looked up and back at Mom, and there was that soul-shattering underbite,” she wrote.
Viola Davis Honors Hayden Panettiere
Hollywood’s elite have come together over the last several days to honor Panettiere’s life. According to a previous report from The Blast, Davis shared a series of images of them on her Instagram and reflected on the time they spent together while making the film “Custody.”
“I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name,” Davis captioned the post.
