US actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, according to a statement from her father, Skip Panettiere.
Her family has not disclosed the cause of death and has appealed for privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
In a statement shared with the BBC, Skip Panettiere described his daughter as “an incredible light and a force of nature” whose presence brought immense love and joy to her family, friends and millions of viewers around the world.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing on the US soap opera One Life to Live at just four years old. She later built an extensive career in television and film, gaining international recognition for her role as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with regenerative powers, in the science-fiction series Heroes.
Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010, made Panettiere a household name. Her character’s ability to heal herself became one of the show’s defining features, alongside its memorable slogan, “Save the cheerleader, save the world.”
She achieved further acclaim as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, the musical television drama that ran from 2012 to 2018. Her portrayal of the ambitious country-pop singer earned her two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 and 2014.
She also performed songs for the series, with 11 of her recordings appearing on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Bring It On: All or Nothing and I Love You, Beth Cooper. She also portrayed Kirby Reed in Scream 4 and reprised the character in Scream VI in 2023.
Beyond her professional achievements, Panettiere’s later years were marked by deeply personal struggles. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released earlier in the year, she reflected on growing up in the entertainment industry, addiction, recovery, abuse, motherhood and the death of her younger brother, Jansen.
Jansen Panettiere died in 2023 at the age of 28 from an enlarged heart. Hayden had previously described him as her only sibling and spoke openly about the profound impact of his death on her.
Panettiere also spoke publicly about her experience with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
In 2018, she gave full custody of Kaya to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, while explaining that her decision was connected to her struggles with mental health, anxiety and postpartum depression.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of grief from fellow actors, musicians and fans. Actress Selma Blair expressed disbelief and heartbreak, while Scream VI co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to Panettiere. Singer JoJo described the news as devastating, and actors’ union SAG-AFTRA said its “hearts” were with Panettiere’s daughter, family, friends and fans.
US television host Rosie O’Donnell was among those who publicly mourned Panettiere, while fans flooded her final Instagram post with tributes celebrating her performances in films and television programmes that had shaped a generation.
Panettiere’s career spanned three decades, from her emergence as a child performer to her rise as an internationally recognised television and film actress. Her performances in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise established her as a versatile performer whose work reached audiences across different genres.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya. Her family has asked for privacy as they mourn her death.
