American Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Three Years After Brother’s Death

American Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Three Years After Brother’s Death

American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the hit television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday, describing his daughter as an “incredible light” who brought joy to the lives of those around her.

The cause of her death was not immediately disclosed.

Panettiere began her career as a child, appearing in commercials and television soap operas before rising to international fame in 2006 as Claire Bennet in the science-fiction series Heroes.

Her portrayal of the cheerleader with extraordinary healing abilities earned her three Teen Choice Awards and turned her into a household name.

She went on to star as country music singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, a role that allowed her to showcase her singing talent. The series initially aired on ABC before moving to CMT, while Panettiere received two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.

Her film credits included Remember the Titans, I Love You, Beth Cooper and appearances in two Scream films.

Away from the screen, Panettiere spoke openly about some of the struggles she faced in her personal life, including alcohol addiction, depression and anxiety. She entered rehabilitation in 2015 while filming Nashville.

Her death comes three years after the loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor. Jansen died in 2023 at the age of 28 from a heart condition.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter, whom she had with Ukrainian former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Her death marks the loss of an actress who began in the entertainment industry as a child and went on to build a career across television and film.