Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at 36. Her representative confirmed the death to multiple news outlets Sunday.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, issued a statement confirming her death. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," he said. "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her—and to the millions who watched her onscreen."
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown. An investigation is ongoing, according to her representatives.
Panettiere had a career spanning decades, starting when she appeared in television commercials at 11 months old. She became widely recognized for playing the self-healing cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC series "Heroes," a role that earned her Teen Choice nominations and a Young Artist Award. She went on to earn critical acclaim for her performance as country music star Juliette Barnes on the ABC series "Nashville," for which she received two Golden Globe nominations and multiple other accolades.
Her film credits included "Remember the Titans," for which she won a Young Artist Award, as well as "Raising Helen," "Ice Princess," "Scream 4" and "Scream VI." She also appeared in "I Love You, Beth Cooper" and took the title role in the 2011 Lifetime telefilm "Amanda Knox."
Beyond acting, Panettiere was an advocate for marine conservation. She served as a spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation, an ocean conservation organization, and appeared in the 2010 Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove," which addressed dolphin slaughter in Japan. The Humane Society honored her with the Genesis Wyler Award for her environmental work.
In recent years, Panettiere became increasingly open about her personal struggles. In May 2026, she published a memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning," in which she reflected on her childhood fame, mental health challenges and addiction. She wrote candidly about experiencing postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, a heavyweight boxer, and about her decision to give up custody of the child in 2018 as her struggles intensified.
The memoir also addressed the death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at age 28 from an undiagnosed heart condition. In a 2024 interview with NBC's "TODAY" show, Hayden described the impact of his death. "When you lose somebody that you saw in all the important moments in your life, standing right next to you, it just rocks your world," she said. She later spoke about the guilt she carried following his passing.
In the months before her death, Panettiere had largely kept out of the public eye. In July 2026, she cancelled an appearance at a convention due to what her representatives described as an emergency. Reports from the day before her death indicated she had traveled from Los Angeles with her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson.
Her death came five days before what would have been her 37th birthday.
Colleagues and fellow actors mourned her passing. Melissa Barrera, who appeared alongside Panettiere in "Scream VI," wrote on Instagram: "Rest in peace sweet Hayden." Emme Rylan, who worked with her on "Bring It On: All or Nothing," posted: "So very sad. Rest in peace sweet soul."
Panettiere is survived by her father Skip Panettiere and her daughter Kaya.
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