LOS ANGELES – American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the hit television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, her representative confirmed.
Hayden Panettier’s family has asked for privacy while the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Panettiere began her career as a child actor and went on to build a successful career across television and film. She gained international recognition for playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes and country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, paid tribute to his daughter, describing her as an extraordinary presence who brought love and happiness to those around her and to millions of viewers.
“She was an incredible light and a force of nature,” he said in a statement shared by the family, while appealing for privacy as relatives come to terms with the loss.
Panettiere also appeared in several major films, including Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4. She later reprised her role as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise, returning for Scream VI in 2023. Her work also extended into video games, where she was known for roles including Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series.
In May this year, Panettiere published her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she opened up about some of the most difficult periods of her life. She discussed postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, struggles with addiction, recovery, trauma and domestic abuse.
Panettiere was the mother of one daughter, Kaya, born in 2014 to her former fiancé, Ukrainian former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya lived with her father.
The actress had been due to turn 37 in the coming days. Her death comes three years after the sudden death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at the age of 28.
Panettiere’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the entertainment industry and fans, who have remembered her for her prominent television roles and decades-long career.
