Actress Hayden Panettiere, famous for Heroes and Nashville, has died at 36. Her representative confirmed her death, according to CNN. Panettiere was reportedly found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Police said there were no early signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Her cause of death remains unknown.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, shared a heartbreaking statement about her passing.
“She was an incredible light and a force of nature,” he said.
Panettiere became a household name as Claire Bennet in Heroes. She later starred as Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Fans also knew her from Scream 4, Scream 6, Remember the Titans and I Love You Beth Cooper.
Beyond acting, Panettiere openly discussed her personal struggles. She battled addiction and postpartum depression during difficult periods of her life. Earlier this year, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. The book explored her childhood fame, recovery, domestic abuse and motherhood. She also spoke about a serious health scare involving her liver.
Panettiere shared daughter Kaya with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko. She previously described giving him custody of Kaya as “the hardest thing I could do.” Sadly, Panettiere also lost her younger brother, Jansen, in 2023. She described their bond as extremely close.
Away from entertainment, she supported mental health awareness, animal rights and environmental causes. Her career and life left a lasting mark on many fans.
