Hayden Panettiere, the American actress known for her roles in the popular television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, according to media reports.
Her father confirmed the actress’s death in a statement to ABC (American Broadcasting Company) News.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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 on screen,” he said.
He asked that the family be given privacy as they “process this unimaginable loss”.
Details about her death were not immediately disclosed. However, the news outlet TMZ (Thirty-Mile Zone) reported that there was an “open investigation” into the cause.
Born in 1989, Panettiere became a child star and went on to appear in numerous films and television programmes.
Her credits include Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
She wrote a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was released in May 2026.
In the book, she wrote about the pressures of being a child star, as well as her experiences with addiction and recovery.
She had also spoken about being estranged from her mother, who managed her career during her childhood and later criticised her daughter’s book.
Hayden Panettiere portrays Claire in Heroes.
