Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her representative confirmed the news to ABC News. Her family has asked for privacy as they deal with the loss. Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, shared a statement about his daughter’s death. He remembered her as a loving person who had a strong impact on both her family and the millions of people who watched her work.
“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 onscreen.”
Skip also asked people to respect the family’s privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.” At the time of the announcement, further details about the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately available.
Panettiere started working as a child and went on to build a long career in television and films. She became widely known for playing Claire Bennet in the hit series Heroes. She later played Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville, a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4. She also returned as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise, with her most recent work including the 2026 psychological thriller Sleepwalker.
Throughout her adult life, Panettiere spoke openly about some of the difficult experiences she faced. In her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May, she discussed postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma, domestic abuse and loss.
In a 2022 interview with Good Morning America, she also spoke about her struggles with alcoholism and postpartum depression.
“I didn’t know where the alcoholism was ending and the postpartum was beginning,” Panetierre said. “And I ran myself pretty ragged.”
She also described the years after Nashville as difficult and explained why she needed time away from the spotlight.
Panettiere was the mother of one daughter, Kaya Klitschko, whom she had in 2014 with her former fiancé, heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Her personal life was also marked by the sudden death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, in February 2023. He was 28 and his family said he died from an enlarged heart along with complications involving his aortic valve.
Hayden spoke openly about the loss in the years that followed.
“I will always be heartbroken about it.”
“I will never be able to get over it,” she said. “No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”
Panettiere’s death comes just days before her 37th birthday, which would have been on Friday. Her career, personal struggles and openness about difficult experiences had made her story closely followed by fans over the years.