Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose to fame with Heroes and later starred in Nashville, has died at 36.
According to the Associated Press (AP), Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced her death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday. He described her as an “incredible light” who brought love and joy to those around her and millions of viewers. No cause of death was announced.
Panettiere began acting as a child in commercials and soap operas. Her breakthrough came in 2006 with Heroes, in which she played cheerleader Claire Bennet, a character with superpowers. The role made her a star and earned her three Teen Choice Awards.
She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Panettiere performed her own songs on the series and earned two Golden Globe nominations for the role.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, I Love You Beth Cooper and the Scream franchise. She also received a Grammy nomination for a children’s spoken-word album connected to A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere’s younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died from a heart condition in 2023 at 28.
She had also spoken openly about her struggles with depression, anxiety, alcoholism and substance abuse. She entered rehab in 2015 while filming Nashville.
Panettiere’s personal life often drew intense public attention. She shared a daughter with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko and had addressed the custody arrangement that placed their daughter in his full-time care.
In recent interviews, Panettiere reflected on her sudden rise to fame and the pressure that came with it. She recalled her first encounter with paparazzi after Heroes as “sheer terror”, despite once imagining the moment would feel glamorous.
