American actress Hayden Panettiere, widely known for her performances in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
Her death was confirmed by her family and representative on Sunday. The cause was not immediately disclosed.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, described the actress as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and happiness to her family, friends and audiences around the world.
The family appealed for privacy while mourning the loss.
Panettiere began working in entertainment as a child, appearing in commercials and the US soap opera One Life to Live before establishing herself in television and film.
Hayden Panettiere’s background, acting career
She gained international recognition as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with regenerative powers, in the science-fiction series Heroes, which aired between 2006 and 2010.
Panettiere later portrayed ambitious country singer Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville from 2012 to 2018.
Her performance earned her two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 and 2014. Several songs she recorded for the programme also appeared 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 played Kirby Reed in Scream 4 and returned to the role in Scream VI in 2023.
Earlier in 2026, Panettiere released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she discussed childhood fame, addiction, recovery, motherhood and the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere.
Jansen died in 2023 at the age of 28 from complications linked to an enlarged heart.
Tributes have poured in from actors, musicians, industry groups and fans following news of Panettiere’s death.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya.
