Hayden Panettiere, who became a household name as a teenager for her role in Heroes and later starred in Nashville and multiple Scream films, has died at age 36.
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers “responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at around 1:50 pm ET on Sunday (August 16). She was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma.
Her father, Skip, confirmed Panettiere’s death in a heartbreaking statement to ABC News. Panettiere’s co-stars including Connie Britton, Tim Allen, Viola Davis and Melissa Barrera have offered heartfelt tributes to the two-time Golden Globe nominee on social media. Panettiere’s ex Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she had one daughter, said he was “deeply saddened” by the news.
Among her most memorable roles were Sheryl Yoast in the 2000 Denzel Washington-led film Remember the Titans, high school cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s sci-fi drama Heroes (2006-2010), and aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes on the hit TV series Nashville (2012-2018).
Her New York Times bestselling memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, was published in May this year, in which she looked back at her childhood in Hollywood and her experiences with addiction, postpartum depression, abusive relationships, and the loss of custody of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Key Points
- Hayden Panettiere dead: Heroes and Nashville star dies aged 36
- Wladimir Klitschko breaks silence over ex-fiancée's death
- Panettiere is survived by her daughter and parents
- Connie Britton says goodbye to Nashville co-star Hayden Panettiere
- Viola Davis mourns Hayden Panettiere as ‘a beautiful phoenix’
- Panettiere's cause of death remains unclear
Hayden Panettiere dead: Heroes and Nashville star dies aged 36
Monday 17 August 2026 05:06 , Shahana Yasmin
Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, and the Scream franchise, has died aged 36.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip said in a statement to ABC News. “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.”
No cause of death was announced.
Panettiere's 'Nashville' co-star was in Greenville, SC hours before her death
14:23 , Caitlin Hornik
Charles Esten shared a note in the comments section of his emotional tribute to his co-star Panettiere.
“A LAST NOTE: Patty and I were not only in Greenville, SC this past Friday night for one of my shows, we were actually in Judson Mills, itself (where the venue is located.),” Esten wrote.
“Alongside the horrific news of her passing, we have both been stunned to hear in news reports that Hayden had apparently arrived there at the same Judson Mills (the loft apartments, not the venue) the very next day.
“By then, (Saturday) our tour bus had taken us through the night to Wilmington, where we were setting up for my next show, oblivious to all that was to come.
“Such a strange coincidence. I just wish that it had actually put us there together at the same time. And that we somehow could have bumped into her. And got to hug her, and laugh in amazement with her.
“And tell her how much we love her again.”
'Nashville' co-star remembers Panettiere
14:04 , Caitlin Hornik
Charles Esten played Deacon Claybourne on the hit ABC series Nashville and recalled the first time he met Panettiere in a heartfelt tribute.
“In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first NASHVILLE audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs. I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard,” Esten wrote in an Instagram caption.
“To my complete surprise, It was Hayden Paniettiere, who - in full Juliette Barnes mode - had been listening with her ear to the door. Instead of looking even a little bit caught, her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!’”
Disney fans remember beloved film after Hayden Panettiere dies a year on from co-star
13:45 , Jacob Stolworthy
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Disney fans remember beloved film after Hayden Panettiere dies a year on from co-star
Viola Davis mourns Hayden Panettiere: 'Beautiful phoenix’
13:30 , Jacob Stolworthy
Viola Davis has remembered Hayden Panettiere as an “old, wise soul” with “such a deep heart” after her death at 36.
Davis and Panettiere acted together twice, first in the 2006 drama The Architect, in which Panettiere played Christina alongside Davis as activist Tonya Neeley, and later in the 2016 courtroom drama Custody. In Custody, Davis played family court judge Martha Schulman while Panettiere portrayed lawyer Ally Fisher.
“What an amazing talent you were....so gifted,” she wrote on Instagram. She added that both she and her husband, Julius Tennon, “loved working with you”.
She continued: “I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered.
“Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”
Gayle king claims Hayden Panettiere was 'still struggling'
13:15 , Jacob Stolworthy
Gayle King is looking back on her interview with Hayden Panettiere from earlier this year in the wake of her death at age 36.
Panettiere made an appearance on CBS Mornings in May to promote her tell-all memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. It transpired to be one of the actor’s final interviews.
On Monday’s episode of CBS Mornings, King said news of her death Sunday is “so, so sad” and “heartbreaking.”
“It was hard when she was here that day,” King, 71, recalled of her interview. “When she was here in the studio that day, and I was talking to her off-camera, she was saying she felt that she was in a good place.”
However, the anchor noted: “She was still, clearly still struggling. To wake up to hear this news was really tough. She was so good. She would have turned 37 on Friday.”
Hayden Panettiere's relationship with Klitchsko and daughter, Kaya
13:00 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere met former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2009 and they started dating soon after. After an initial split in 2011, they reunited in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, the following year.
Following this, Panettiere had postpartum depression, which led to an addiction to alcohol and opioids. While she dealt with her struggles, she gave full custody of Kaya to Klitchsko, who moved her to Ukraine.
Reflecting on this, Panettiere called her decision a “living nightmare” that “wasn’t fully” her decision. But after going to rehab for eight months in 2020, she maintained a good co-parenting relationship with Klitchsko, and the pair remained close until her death. Kaya is now 11.
The Independent interviewed Hayden Panettiere in May
12:45 , Jacob Stolworthy
In May 2026, Hayden Panettiere gave one of her final interviews to The Independent, which we have republished. In it, the Heroes and Nashville star spoke about domestic violence, her estrangement from her mother, and being fired from the movie that could have changed her life.
Hayden Panettiere: ‘My mom wasn’t interested in having a normal relationship with me’
'Nashville' co-star Connie Britton speaks out
12:30 , Jacob Stolworthy
Connie Britton, who co-starred on Nashville with Hayden Panettiere from 2012 to 2017, broke her silence on Hayden Panettiere’s death in an Instagram post shared Monday.
“This was Hayden,” the actor said. “Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright.”
“I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.”
Hayden Panettiere was estranged from 'complex' mother
12:12 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere opened up about her relationship with her “complex” mother, Lesley Vogel, who signed her up to an acting and modelling agent when she was just four months old.
However, growing up, Panettiere said that receiving praise for her work “was also all wrapped up in pleasing” her mother, who had some success as a soap star in the 1980s.
Panettiere wrote about her mother in her memoir earlier this year, revealing that if she “wasn’t honest about my relationship with her, I wouldn’t be being honest at all” as she is “a huge part of the person I am today”.
Panettiere cut professional ties with her mother while working on Heroes, aged 19. She asked to meet her in her trailer, and begged her to just be her mother. “All I wanted was a dynamic that didn’t involve contracts, producers, boho tops, or drinking wine at industry parties,” she wrote in the memoir.
Vogel, Panettiere claimed, “picked up her purse, clenched her jaw, and looked straight at me. ‘You owe me,’ she answered. Then she turned around and walked out of my trailer ... I knew I’d done the right thing, but I sensed something in me had died.”
Before her death, Panettiere said they were estranged, but expressed hope that they would one day reconcile.
Luxury apartment complex issues statement to residents
11:15 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere was found dead Sunday at Judson Mill Lofts, a luxury apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina.
After news of her death was released, the apartment released the following statement to residents, according to the Greenville News.
“We understand that a visible emergency and law enforcement response can be unsettling, and we appreciate your patience, discretion and understanding,” the statement said.
Residents were assured that there was “no threat” to their community.
'It was honour to write for Hayden Panettiere'
11:00 , Shahana Yasmin
Bryan Fuller, who wrote Claire Bennet’s storyline in the first season of Heroes, has paid tribute to Hayden Panettiere, whose performance as the indestructible cheerleader became one of the show’s defining elements.
“Save the cheerleader, save the world,” Fuller wrote on Instagram. “It was an honour and an inspiration to write Claire Bennet’s storyline in season one of HEROES.”
He added: “Hayden was more than an actress, she was a muse. Wise beyond her years and already saddled with so much of a life, she left an indelible mark on me as a writer and a storyteller. Incredibly sad news.”
PETA praises dedicated animal advocate Hayden Panettiere: 'She was the real deal'
10:45 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere might have been known primarily for her acting, but she was also an avid animal activist, having “paddled into blood-stained waters of Taiji, Japan, to stare down dolphin hunters during their annual massacre” – a moment captured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove.
She also “never stopped denouncing marine parks like SeaWorld, calling their confinement of complex, far-ranging marine mammals in concrete tanks ‘disgusting’”.
PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange wrote: “Hayden Panettiere became a household name playing a hero on TV, but to animals, she was the real deal. The world has lost a kind soul and the animals a fierce ally, and everyone at PETA holds her memory close.”
Actor who worked with Hayden Panettiere on final film says actor was ‘really lonely’ before her death
10:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Justin Chatwin has said Hayden Panettiere’s death has left him feeling not only “sad” but angry about the pressures placed on young actors in Hollywood.
Chatwin, who worked with Panettiere on her final film Sleepwalker, told People: “Hayden seemed different when I met her this time than when I met her in the early years. I’ve been sober for 15 years, so I know this world of addiction, and Hollywood – it takes, and it takes from youth.”
“She was sweet. She had a beautiful heart,” he said. “But we’re trained to be on, and I really liked spending time with her because she took that off, and she was authentic with me about her life and she opened up about her struggles with addiction.”
“I really loved working with her, but I also know that she was really lonely,” Chatwin added.
Hayden Panettiere's younger brother died in 2023
10:15 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 due to complications with his heart.
Jansen had an undiagnosed enlarged heart, as well as aortic valve complications.
His sudden death was extremely painful for Hayden, who told People in 2024: He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him.”
“When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul,” she said.
Hayden Panettiere said she had 'a lot of life left to live'
10:00 , Jacob Stolworthy
In one of her last interviews with podcaster Jay Shetty in the months before her death, Hayden Panettiere spoke about her future with hope.
'Heroes' stars pay tribute to Hayden Panettiere
09:45 , Jacob Stolworthy
Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura)
Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Hayden. I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I’ll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent, and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did and the people around her. She was way wiser beyond her…
— Masi Oka (@MasiOka) August 17, 2026
Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman)
Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh)
Jimmy Jean-Louis (The Haitian)
Santiago Cabrera (Isaac Mendez)
James Kyson (Ando Masahashi)
The heartbreaking family struggles that shaped Hayden Panettiere’s life off screen
09:30 , Shahana Yasmin
The Heroes and Nashville star, who has tragically died aged 36, was bracingly honest about her experiences of familial estrangement, losing custody of her daughter and the depression that followed the sudden death of her younger brother, writes Katie Rosseinsky
The heartbreaking family struggles that shaped Hayden Panettiere’s life off screen
Hayden Panettiere's history of postpartum depression
09:15 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere spoke candidly about how she wishes she had known about the risk of postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter, Kaya.
In an interview with E! News’ The Rundown, Panettiere shared how turning to alcohol to deal with postpartum depression made “everything worse”.
“I wish I knew about postpartum depression. I wish I knew to look out for it. I just thought there was something seriously wrong with me, so I thought, ‘Fireball will fix this – duh!’ and it didn’t. It does for a moment, but then it makes everything worse.”
The actor said she did not learn about postpartum depression before her pregnancy, which made the experience even more isolating.
“I wish somebody told me it’s OK if you birth your child and you’re not immediately like, ‘Oh my god, I love you more than anything in the entire world!’”
Wladimir Klitschko 'deeply saddened' over ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere's death
08:48 , Jacob Stolworthy
Former world heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko has shared a statement on the death of his ex-fiancée Hayden Panettiere, with whom he has a daughter.
He wrote underneath a family photo: “Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief…
‘The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya…
“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives…
“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was…
He extended his “deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today”, adding: “Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon…
‘I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say… Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences…”
Hayden Panettiere's cause of death remains unclear
08:45 , Jacob Stolworthy
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers “responded to a report of an unresponsive female” at around 1:50 pm ET on Sunday (August 16). She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma. An investigation is ongoing.
Taryn Manning says Hayden Panettiere was ‘down to earth, kind’
08:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Taryn Manning has shared a glimpse of her friendship with Hayden Panettiere, recalling a night in Washington DC when the pair found themselves surrounded by “very suited- slightly strange men” and could not stop laughing.
“This one hurts,” Manning wrote on Instagram. “Hayden was always such a sweetheart – so rad – down to earth, kind, and consistently the same every time I saw her.”
She said the pair shared “so many funny little moments over the years”, but one photograph brought back memories of that particular night. After repeatedly catching each other’s eyes and “laughing uncontrollably at the weirdness”, Manning said they “dipped out and ate a diner”.
“That was Hayden – down to clown – easy, funny, real,” she wrote. “Just such a dear, a rad rad human.”
“I don’t really have words for what has happened and she is suddenly gone,” Manning added. “I’m just grateful I got to know her and have memories like this. Tiny sweet girl.”
Hayden Panettiere's Kingdom Hearts co-stars pay tribute
08:15 , Shahana Yasmin
Hayden Panettiere’s Kingdom Hearts co-stars and the game’s official account have paid tribute to the actor, who voiced Kairi in several instalments of the franchise.
Panettiere voiced Kairi, one of the series’ central characters, in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. She also voiced Xion in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Stoner later took over the English voice of Kairi in several titles.
The official Kingdom Hearts account wrote: “Through her performance as Kairi, Hayden brought warmth, heart, and an unforgettable voice to the Kingdom Hearts series.”
In a tearful video posted on Instagram, Stoner said: “I’ve worked with Hayden, I worked with Hayden’s brother Jansen. And from one Kairi to another, I just wanted to acknowledge the tremendous loss.”
Stoner also addressed the wider Kingdom Hearts community, sending her condolences to Panettiere’s family and “the many lives Hayden reached” and saying: “May you rest in freedom, Hayden.”
'Heroes' star Masi Oka 'absolutely heartbroken' by news
08:00 , Jacob Stolworthy
Masi Oka, who played Hiro Nakamura in Heroes, paid tribute to his fellow lead star Hayden Panettiere.
“Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Hayden,” he wrote on X. “I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I’ll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent, and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did and the people around her.
He said she “was way wiser beyond her years and now gone too soon”.
Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Hayden. I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I’ll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent, and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did and the people around her. She was way wiser beyond her…
— Masi Oka (@MasiOka) August 17, 2026
Hayden Panettiere's personal career highlight
09:13 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hayden Panettiere said the 2000 film Remember the Titans was her favourite to shoot.
“This movie was my favorite movie to film, what an incredible time in my life,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2013.
In the Denzel Washington film, she played Sheryl Yoast, the daughter of assistant high school football coach Bill Yoast, played by Will Patton.
“I mean, you have no idea how many times in my life I have wished and prayed... if I had wished to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to Remember the Titans.”
Music video director recalls ‘sweet’ Hayden Panettiere
07:45 , Shahana Yasmin
Music video director Chris Applebaum has shared a behind-the-scenes look at his time working with Hayden Panettiere, posting footage from her 2008 video for “Wake Up Call”.
Panettiere released “Wake Up Call” as her first single not tied to one of her acting projects, with the video directed by Applebaum and featuring Marvel star Sebastian Stan as her boyfriend.
Applebaum wrote that he had recently seen Panettiere at Paris Hilton’s and the pair had been “cracking up” about memories from making the video, including “pranking Klitschko in Miami” and jokes about how “tiny” she was.
“Such a sweet, tiny little bundle of joy,” he wrote. “Your memory will always be a blessing.”
‘Rest in peace, sweet princess’: Kelly Osbourne bids farewell to Hayden Panettiere
07:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Kelly Osbourne has spoken about the bond she shared with Hayden Panettiere, saying they understood one another through the particular pressures of growing up famous.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of someone who meant so much to me,” Osbourne wrote, sharing a photograph of Panettiere on her Instagram Stories. “We understood each other in a way few truly can – recognising how difficult it is to grow up in the spotlight, and how isolating it can feel even when surrounded by so many people.”
“My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me,” she continued. “I will never forget you, Hayden, and I will always believe you deserved better.”
“Rest in peace, sweet princess. You will never be forgotten,” Osbourne added.
Matt Lanter recalls Hayden Panettiere’s ‘tons of laughs’ across two shows
07:15 , Shahana Yasmin
Matt Lanter shared a full-circle memory of Hayden Panettiere, having played her boyfriend on two different shows more than a decade ago.
“So sad to hear of Hayden’s passing,” Lanter wrote. “She played my girlfriend on Commander in Chief then I went over to her show and played her boyfriend on S1 of Heroes. We always had a great time on set and tons of laughs. Man, just too young.”
Panettiere appeared as Stacy in a 2006 episode of Commander in Chief, in which she played Lanter’s girlfriend. Lanter played Horace Calloway, the teenage son of President Mackenzie Allen.
Later that year, the pair reunited on Heroes, where Panettiere played cheerleader Claire Bennet and Lanter appeared as Brody Mitchum, a quarterback who dates Claire before becoming one of the show’s villains.
Hayden Panettiere’s final director says she ‘taught me so much’
06:45 , Shahana Yasmin
Brandon Auman, the writer and director of Sleepwalker, Hayden Panettiere’s final film, has opened up about the time they spent working together following her death at 36.
The psychological thriller, released in January 2026, stars Panettiere as Sarah, an artist haunted by the death of her daughter in a car accident while her abusive husband lies in a coma.
Auman shared a tribute on Instagram, writing: “Horrible news. Completely devastated. You taught me so much on set, and the personal stories you shared with me about growing up in the industry were often profound, surreal and amazing. Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you, Hayden.”
Panettiere had spoken warmly about working with Auman, describing him as “so passionate” and saying she wanted to be “as present for him as I could”.
Derek Hough says seeing old photo of Hayden Panettiere ‘breaks my heart’
06:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Derek Hough has shared a memory of working with Hayden Panettiere while she was pregnant with her daughter, Kaya.
The Dancing With the Stars judge appeared alongside Panettiere on Nashville in 2014, playing movie star Noah West opposite her character, country singer Juliette Barnes.
Sharing a photograph from their time together, Hough wrote: “Heartbroken to hear about Hayden’s passing. The little time I got to spend with her, she was so sweet, so kind. I’ve always admired her work and the joy she brought people.”
He continued: “She was actually pregnant when we filmed together. Looking at this photo now, having recently become a father myself, breaks my heart.”
Heroes cast remember Hayden Panettiere as ‘one of the brighter lights’
06:15 , Shahana Yasmin
Hayden Panettiere’s former Heroes co-stars have been sharing personal memories of the actor.
Sendhil Ramamurthy said he met Panettiere at the final screen test for Heroes, where he found her “belting show tunes in the waiting room” while he was “sweating” with nerves. He described her as “a pro” despite being nearly twice his age and having “3x as much experience”.
“I learned a lot from her,” he wrote. Ramamurthy remembered how she “stuck up for background actors when they were mistreated”, knew “every crew members name” and was “so generous with her time”.
He ended by describing her as “a kind, joyful, professional, shi*t-talker, who even at a young age, understood the importance of hydration”.
David Anders, who played Adam Monroe on Heroes, wrote: “One of the brighter lights I’ve ever met and had the privilege to call a friend. I love you Hayden. Always and forever. Wherever you are now.”
Dania Ramirez, who played Maya Herrera, wrote: “My heart aches so much right now. I love you and will always miss you. I take comfort in knowing that I am with you in life and in death because your love and energy has always transcended this dimension.”
James Kyson, who played Ando Masahashi, remembered meeting Panettiere when she was 16 and said she was already “a veteran actor with such bright spirit, and an older soul”. He also recalled her as “a fierce protector of animal rights” and a “‘cheerleader’ for kindness, justice, and people being treated fairly”.
Skip Panettiere's statement in full
06:01 , Carsen Holaday
Alan “Skip” Panettiere issued the following statement to ABC News regarding the death of his daughter, Hayden Panettiere.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement 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.”
He then asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Kim Cattrall mourns her Ice Princess daughter Hayden Panettiere
05:50 , Shahana Yasmin
Kim Cattrall has remembered Hayden Panettiere, who played her on-screen daughter in the 2005 Disney film Ice Princess, with a brief but poignant tribute.
“Rest in peace sweet Hayden. Gone far too soon,” Cattrall wrote on Instagram.
In the film, Cattrall played Tina Harwood, a former figure skater and coach whose daughter Gen, played by Panettiere, becomes rivals with Michelle Trachtenberg’s aspiring skater Casey Carlyle.
The film has taken on a particularly tragic meaning for fans after Panettiere’s death, coming just 18 months after Trachtenberg died aged 39.
Scream co-stars honour Hayden Panettiere after her death
05:35 , Shahana Yasmin
Hayden Panettiere’s Scream family has been among those mourning the actor, with Neve Campbell remembering her former co-star as “a true talent”.
Neve Campbell, who starred with Panettiere in Scream 4, told People: “I found Hayden to be really kind and funny and brought a magnetic energy to set. She was a true talent which shows in the decades she worked in such a short life. Her family and loved ones are in my prayers.”
Emma Roberts, who played Panettiere’s on-screen cousin Jill Roberts in Scream 4, shared a photograph of the pair and wrote: “Rest in peace my sweet friend. you are so loved and you will be forever missed.”
David Arquette, another Scream 4 co-star, wrote “I love you, Hayden” on Variety’s Instagram post announcing her death.
Melissa Barrera, who worked with Panettiere on Scream VI, posted on Instagram Stories: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.” Panettiere had returned as Kirby Reed in the 2023 film, 12 years after first playing the character.
Scream writer Kevin Williamson also shared a photograph of Panettiere in character as Kirby on his Instagram Stories, adding three red heart emojis.
Nico Tortorella, who played Trevor Sheldon in Scream 4, also shared a personal tribute, writing: “We grew up together in so many ways, fought like siblings, loved like siblings, and somewhere along the way, you just became family.”
Disney fans remember beloved film after Hayden Panettiere dies a year on from co-star
05:15 , Shahana Yasmin
Disney fans remember beloved film after Hayden Panettiere dies a year on from co-star
Nashville: Hayden Panettiere's role as Juliette Barnes
05:02 , Carsen Holaday
Hayden Panettiere played country-pop singer Juliette Barnes on ABC drama Nashville from 2012 to 2018 alongside co-star Connie Britton.
Connie Britton says goodbye to Nashville co-star Hayden Panettiere
04:50 , Shahana Yasmin
Connie Britton has shared a tribute to former Nashville co-star Hayden Panettiere, sharing photographs of the pair from their years on the ABC country music drama.
“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” Britton wrote on Instagram. “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.”
Britton played country superstar Rayna Jaymes in the series, with Panettiere as the fiercely ambitious young singer Juliette Barnes. Their characters began as rivals fighting for their place in Nashville’s country music scene, but their relationship gradually became one of the show’s most important friendships.
Panettiere and Britton starred together throughout the show’s run from 2012 to 2018.
Panettiere also wrote about the changing dynamic with Britton in her memoir, admitting she became “deeply uncomfortable” when her character’s growing popularity began to rival Britton’s. “My character wasn’t intended to be the show’s star – not even close,” she wrote. “That honour went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly.”
Bethany Joy Lenz pays tribute to Hayden Panettiere after 26-year friendship
04:40 , Shahana Yasmin
Bethany Joy Lenz has shared a deeply personal tribute to Hayden Panettiere, recalling the actor as a child when they worked together on the soap opera Guiding Light.
“There is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But I'm here with my head in my hands and I don’t know what else to do in aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue,” the One Tree Hill star wrote on Instagram.
Lenz, who was 18 when Panettiere was around nine or 10, remembered the young actor running through the Screen Gems studio in New York “laughing and playing games in between Guiding Light blocking and camera rehearsals”.
“Her intelligence was astonishing,” Lenz wrote. “She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera.”
Lenz said they remained in touch “over the years”, comparing their relationship to “the cousin in the family reunion who got famous and life moved her away”.
“I don’t understand how this is real,” she wrote. “Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surrounded by love.”
Viola Davis mourns Hayden Panettiere as ‘a beautiful phoenix’
04:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Viola Davis mourns Hayden Panettiere as ‘a beautiful phoenix’
Viola Davis has remembered Hayden Panettiere as an “old, wise soul” with “such a deep heart” after her death at 36.
Davis and Panettiere acted together twice, first in the 2006 drama The Architect, in which Panettiere played Christina alongside Davis as activist Tonya Neeley, and later in the 2016 courtroom drama Custody. In Custody, Davis played family court judge Martha Schulman while Panettiere portrayed lawyer Ally Fisher.
“What an amazing talent you were....so gifted,” she wrote on Instagram. She added that both she and her husband, Julius Tennon, “loved working with you”.
She continued: “I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered.
“Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name.”
Survived by her daughter and parents
04:20 , Carsen Holaday
Hayden Panettiere is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, who she shared with her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
She is also survived by her mother, former soap actor Lesley Vogel, and her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, who was a former New York City Fire Department chief.
Alexa PenaVega mourns Hayden Panettiere and fellow child stars
04:00 , Shahana Yasmin
Spy Kids star Alexa PenaVega has paid tribute to Hayden Panettiere, looking back on the loss of the actors who grew up in the entertainment industry alongside her.
PenaVega named Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Daveigh Chase, whose deaths have occurred within less than two years. “Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh… my heart is heavy today,” she wrote on Instagram. “These aren’t just names from my childhood. They’re girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard.”
She added: “We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or support they deserved. Today, I’m grieving and holding their families close in my prayers and thinking of everyone still fighting battles we cannot see. Hug your people close today.”
Panettiere died aged 36 on Sunday, while Trachtenberg, 39, died in February 2025 from complications of diabetes mellitus, and Chase, 35, died in June 2026 from AIDS, with chronic polysubstance use listed as a significant contributing condition.
Days away from birthday
03:00 , Carsen Holaday
Hayden Panettiere was five days away from her 37th birthday when she died Sunday.
Her cause of death has not been released.
Hayden Panettiere's TV history
02:32 , Carsen Holaday
After getting her start on ABC soap One Life to Live, Hayden Panettiere went on to act in a number of TV shows, eventually starring in hit shows Heroes and Nashville. Below is a list of TV shows she appeared on, according to her IMDb page:
- Aliens in the Family
- Unhappily Ever After
- One Life to Live
- Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke
- Touched by an Angel
- Guiding Light
- Ally McBeal
- Fillmore!
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Malcolm in the Middle
- Commander in Chief
- Skater Boys
- Robot Chicken
- Heroes
- American Dad!
- Heroes Reborn
- Nashville
'Heroes' co-star pays tribute
02:01 , Carsen Holaday
Dania Ramirez, who played Maya Herrera on Heroes, shared a tribute to her former co-star on Instagram.
“My heart aches so much right now,” she wrote. “I love you and will always miss you. I take comfort in knowing that I am with you in life and in death because your love and energy has always transcended this dimension.”
Ramirez added: “My thoughts are with your daughter and those who truly love you. I know that the ones that got to feel your gifts will forever feel blessed and grateful for you.”
'Scream' co-star is without words
01:33 , Carsen Holaday
Nico Tortorella, who played Trevor Sheldon in Scream 4, shared an Instagram post dedicated to his former co-star.
“I keep trying to write something, but there are too few words for you,” the actor said.
“I love you. I miss you. And I’m sorry. I hope you and Jan are somewhere bigger than all of this.”
'Orange is the New Black' star remembers friend
Tuesday 18 August 2026 00:31 , Carsen Holaday
Orange is the New Black actor Taryn Manning shared a heartfelt post remembering Hayden Panettiere on Instagram.
“This one hurts,” Manning captioned a picture of herself and Panettiere behind a DJ booth.
“Hayden was always such a sweetheart- so rad - down to earth, kind, and consistently the same every time I saw her,” she wrote. “We shared so many funny little moments over the years, and this photo brings it all back. We were in Washington, D.C., surrounded by very suited- slightly strange men, and somehow we just kept catching each other’s eyes and laughing uncontrollably at the weirdness. And then we dipped out and ate a diner.”
She continued: “That was Hayden - down to clown - easy, funny, real. Just such a dear, a rad rad human.I don’t really have words for what has happened and she is suddenly gone. I’m just grateful I got to know her and have memories like this. Tiny sweet girl.”
Ashlee Simpson shares throwback
Tuesday 18 August 2026 00:00 , Carsen Holaday
Ashlee Simpson shared a picture of her and Hayden Panettiere from the 2005 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party on Instagram.
“I’m deeply saddened by the news of Hayden Panettiere’s passing,” the singer said. “Rest in peace, Hayden. You will be deeply missed.”
Heather Matarazzo and Hayden Panettiere met as children
Monday 17 August 2026 23:32 , Carsen Holaday
Princess Diaries actor Heather Matarazzo said that she is “devastated” over the loss of Hayden Panettiere as a fellow former child actor.
“We first met on the LIRR traveling to NYC for auditions when we were both kids,” she wrote on Instagram. “Every time our paths crossed, my heart always filled up. She was special. She was a Sprite of a being and such a talent. Truly a light….. Love you, Hayden.”
Alyssa Milano: 'She used her voice'
Monday 17 August 2026 23:00 , Carsen Holaday
Alyssa Milano is praising Hayden Panettiere’s activism after her death.
“I keep coming back to this photograph and thinking about Hayden’s courage,” Milano wrote in an Instagram post Monday. “I hope people remember this part of her and that it doesn’t get lost in the noise, the headlines, or the flattening of public figures into story and spectacle.”
She wrote: “Long before it was common for public figures to speak out, Hayden understood something simple and difficult: visibility is not just something you are given, but something you can give away. And she gave hers, again and again, in service of things larger than herself.”
Milano mentioned Panettiere’s animal rights activism, as well as her conservation efforts.
“And perhaps most quietly powerful, she spoke openly about what so many are taught to hide: domestic violence, postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, and abuse,” Milano said. “She did not share these things for ease or attention, but because she understood what her silence could cost others.”
The actor praised Panettiere’s activism as “instinctive” and “sincere.”
“She used her voice. She showed up,” Milano said. “She cared fiercely.I hope that is remembered too, the way she chose to stand in the world when it mattered.Rest in peace, Hayden. You deserved so much more time and your courage deserves to be remembered.”
On-screen sister pays tribute
Monday 17 August 2026 22:45 , Carsen Holaday
Brittany Snow, who played Hayden Panettiere’s on-screen sister in Guiding Light, remembered the late actor as a “bright shining light” on social media.
“I was lucky enough to play your sister for 3 years,” she wrote on her Instagram story.
“I related to you so much in so many ways. Ways that I never even told you. Your talent was remarkable & so was your determination to be a bold, bright shining light. And you were.”
She continued: “Always supportive, curious, funny and brave. You will always be rememebred undoubtedly for your undeniable strength and spirit.”
Luxury apartment complex issues statement to residents
Monday 17 August 2026 22:28 , Carsen Holaday
Hayden Panettiere was found dead Sunday at Judson Mill Lofts, a luxury apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina.
After news of her death was released, the apartment released the following statement to residents, according to the Greenville News.
“We understand that a visible emergency and law enforcement response can be unsettling, and we appreciate your patience, discretion and understanding,” the statement said.
Residents were assured that there was “no threat” to their community.
What did Hayden Panettiere say about her friendship with Diana Jenkins?
Monday 17 August 2026 22:00 , Carsen Holaday
In Hayden Panettiere’s memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, the actor spoke about her friendships in Hollywood, including one with former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Diana Jenkins.
Panettiere and Jenkins met when Panettiere, who was 20 at the time, was photographed for the 2009 coffee table book Room 23.
“Diana was almost thirty years older than me, and while I’d always been mature for my age, it’s impossible to overlook an age difference that large,” Panettiere wrote in the book.
“It was a weird friendship for sure, but as I stretched into my newfound adulthood, I had to see which relationships suited me, on my own terms. At that moment, Diana seemed like she could give me everything I needed.”
Hayden Panettiere's friend reveals her last text to him
Monday 17 August 2026 21:30 , Carsen Holaday
Country singer Clayton Johnson paid tribute to his friend Hayden Panettiere by sharing a video of them singing together on Instagram.
“Sweet Hayden,” he wrote. “I spent last night trying to process, to try to find the right words, but there really aren’t any.”
“More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen,” he said about Panettiere’s brother, who died in 2023.
“It’s been a couple of weeks since our last phone call, but the last thing you ever texted me was, ‘Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me,’” he said.
“That was you in a nutshell.I’m grateful I got to know you, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories. Fly high, Hayden.”
Alexa Vega remembers fellow child stars
Monday 17 August 2026 21:00 , Carsen Holaday
Spy Kids star Alexa Vega shared an Instagram post remembering Hayden Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg and Daveigh Chase after all three former child actors died in the last few years.
“Hayden, Michelle, Daveigh...my heart is heavy today,” Vega wrote. “These aren’t just names from my childhood. They’re girls I grew up alongside, sharing a world that was exciting and also incredibly hard.”
She continued: “We were kids navigating something so big, and not everyone had the foundation or support they deserved.”
“Today, I’m grieving and holding their families close in my prayers and thinking of everyone still fighting battles we can’t see. Hug your people close today.”
A look at Panettiere's career in Hollywood
Monday 17 August 2026 20:31 , Caitlin Hornik
Hayden Panettiere lent her voice and presence to dozens of films and TV shows throughout her career. Caitlin Hornik looks back:
Tim Allen is 'shocked and so sad'
Monday 17 August 2026 20:04 , Caitlin Hornik
Allen played Panettiere’s father in the 2001 comedy-drama Joe Somebody.
“She is a wonder,” Allen wrote on X.
I am shocked and so sad as the passing of Hayden Panettiere. She played my daughter in the movie Joe Somebody. The fondest memories of that movie were moments around her. She is a wonder and my prayers are with her family.
— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) August 17, 2026
