Melissa Gilbert pleads to protect child actors after Hayden Panettiere's death at 36
Melissa Gilbert is calling for urgent reforms in Hollywood’s treatment of child performers, joining a growing chorus of advocates after the deaths of three former child stars within the past year.
In a heartfelt post published on her Substack, the 62-year-old actress reflected on the loss of Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Daveigh Chase — all of whom died far too young, she wrote, leaving behind families and unfinished legacies.
Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” passed away in February at age 39 due to complications from diabetes mellitus, according to sources close to her family. Daveigh Chase, who starred in “Lilo & Stitch” and “The Ring,” died in June at age 35 from AIDS, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Hayden Panettiere, celebrated for her role in “Heroes” and later appearances on “Nashville,” died on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina, at age 35. Preliminary autopsy results showed no signs of trauma, and the DEA has joined local authorities in investigating the circumstances surrounding her final hours. A police report indicates that Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were present when she died.
“I didn’t know Hayden personally, but it feels personal because I was them,” Gilbert wrote, referencing her own experience as a former child actor best known for playing Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie.” She described the three women as part of a “tribe” she dubbed the “Female Former Child Performers,” noting that each loss reverberates throughout their shared community.
“When three of us die so close together, something is very, very wrong,” Gilbert added.
She urged society to take action, pointing to factors such as increased screen exposure and social media pressures as potential contributors to the mental health struggles many former child stars face. While acknowledging that no single cause can be identified, she emphasized the need for systemic change.
“All I know is something has got to be done,” Gilbert wrote. “I have this image in my mind of Hayden’s little girl who will now grow up without her Mama... That’s the same age I was when my father died. And now I am weeping as I type this and I just want to scream from the rooftops — ENOUGH!”
Gilbert’s plea echoes sentiments already expressed by other former child actors and industry figures calling for stronger protections and support systems for young performers navigating fame and public life. As investigations continue into Panettiere’s death, attention remains focused on how the entertainment industry can better safeguard those who begin their careers in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Gilbert faces personal legal challenges of her own. Her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, is currently awaiting trial on multiple counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor related to alleged incidents during a 2023 theater production in New Mexico. Busfield has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney, Larry Stein, maintains the charges are unsubstantiated. The case is set to move forward in court.
