Frankie Muniz is remembering Hayden Panettiere as someone with whom he shared far more than a few scenes on television.
One day after Panettiere’s death at 36, Muniz posted a photograph of the two together and reflected on the years they spent crossing paths professionally.
Their shared credits included Malcolm in the Middle, where Panettiere played Malcolm’s recurring babysitter and occasional love interest Jessica, and the 2005 family film Racing Stripes. Muniz’s tribute focused less on individual projects than on what remained behind them, saying he had “so many amazing stories and memories with her.”
Muniz joins a growing group of Panettiere’s former costars, collaborators and friends who have publicly remembered her following her Aug. 16 death.
Muniz Said He Had ‘Amazing Stories and Memories’ With Panettiere
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Muniz shared his tribute on Instagram on Aug. 17 alongside a photograph of himself with Panettiere. “Very sad to hear about Hayden,” Muniz wrote, according to PEOPLE. “I got to work with her on many projects and always had an absolutely great time with her.”
He ended the brief message by looking beyond their individual credits. “I have so many amazing stories and memories with her,” Muniz wrote. “I hope she rests in peace.”
The tribute offered a personal glimpse at a professional connection stretching back more than two decades, when both performers were already veterans of the entertainment industry despite still being young.
Panettiere Played Malcolm’s Babysitter and Love Interest Jessica
Panettiere appeared in four episodes of Malcolm in the Middle between 2003 and 2005 as Jessica, a spirited babysitter who became an occasional romantic interest for Muniz’s Malcolm.
Jessica first appeared when Hal, played by Bryan Cranston, hired her to babysit Malcolm and his brothers. Malcolm was surprised to discover that the babysitter was around his own age, and Jessica quickly proved capable of manipulating the boys while creating chaos around the household.
The character eventually developed into more than a babysitter. Jessica later convinced Malcolm to end a relationship, kissed him and then promptly told him that the two had no chemistry. Panettiere looked back fondly on the role in a 2025 Entertainment Weekly interview, crediting Cranston with taking a chance on her.
“I only got the role because Bryan Cranston was directing,” she said. “That is my true belief, because he was an actor.” Panettiere recalled Cranston telling her, “You’re so wrong for this. But we’re going to make it work.” “That was the first time I had ever experienced someone really taking a chance on me,” she said.
The role appealed to her precisely because Jessica was different from the parts audiences had come to expect from her. “I loved being able to play a character that was so different from the way I knew people saw me,” Panettiere told EW, later adding that playing someone so “out of the box” had been fun and reinforced how much she loved comedy.
They Shared Another Major Credit in ‘Racing Stripes’
Muniz and Panettiere were also both central to Racing Stripes, the 2005 family movie about an abandoned zebra who grows up believing he can compete against racehorses. Muniz provided the voice of Stripes, the zebra at the center of the story, while Panettiere starred on screen as Channing Walsh, the teenager who believes in his ability to race and ultimately rides him.
Although Muniz’s part was a voice performance, the two appeared together while promoting the film. They were photographed together at the movie’s Los Angeles premiere festivities in January 2005. The film arrived during a period when both actors were especially visible to young audiences.
Within two years, Panettiere would begin playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes, the role that propelled her to a new level of fame. She later starred as Juliette Barnes on Nashville and returned as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise.
His Message Joined Tributes From Across Panettiere’s Career
Muniz’s post followed messages from people who knew Panettiere at very different stages of her life and career. The Associated Press reported tributes from former colleagues and friends including Connie Britton, Viola Davis, Melissa Barrera, Bethany Joy Lenz and others.
Britton, who starred opposite Panettiere throughout Nashville, described the news as heartbreaking. Davis, who worked with Panettiere on Custody, remembered her talent and resilience, while other former collaborators shared memories reaching back to Panettiere’s years as a child performer.
Those remembrances have highlighted the unusually long span of Panettiere’s career. She began acting as a baby and worked across soap operas, network television, movies, animation and music before eventually writing about her life and career in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.