After the stars' deaths: The Disney movie blowing up on TikTok
The death of Hayden Panettiere at age 36, just a year and a half after the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg at 39, has sparked a wave of nostalgia for the 2005 film "Ice Princess." Fans are sharing clips from the movie, mourning the loss of both stars.
Since the news of Hayden Panettiere's death on Monday at age 36, the internet has been flooded with unforgettable clips from her career — from scenes in "Heroes" and "Nashville" to the films she starred in over the years. However, it is "Ice Princess," the 2005 film in which she played Gen Harwood alongside Michelle Trachtenberg, that has received special attention under these tragic circumstances, as both stars are no longer with us.
Fans who grew up watching the film have been paying tribute to the actresses:
"Our ice princesses are back together. Now they will skate on the ice together forever. I can't believe both of our ice princesses are gone; Hayden and Michelle will remain beloved and remembered forever by the girls who grew up on 'Ice Princess'."
In "Ice Princess," Trachtenberg, who died last year at age 39 from complications of diabetes, played Casey Carlyle — an outstanding high school student who gives up the path to Harvard to fulfill her dream of becoming a professional skater. Panettiere played Gen Harwood, her main rival, who later becomes her ally. While the film may not have been a massive box office hit, it has become a deeply beloved and nostalgic piece of cinema for those who grew up on it.
Among those who paid tribute was Blake Lively, who posted a clip from the film on her story, writing: "Be kind. You never know what others are going through. Thank you to these two women for all the joy you brought to so many people." Kim Cattrall, who played Tina Harwood, the skating coach and Gen's mother, also shared her grief: "Rest in peace, sweet Hayden," Cattrall wrote on Instagram, "you left us too soon."
Hayden Panettiere was found without signs of life in her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, following an apparent overdose. Emergency responders were summoned to the scene after a report of cardiac arrest, but despite resuscitation efforts, her death was pronounced shortly after. Panettiere passed away just five days before her 37th birthday. Michelle Trachtenberg was found in her New York home in February 2025; it was later determined that she died from complications of diabetes, a natural cause of death.
