Actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

US actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36.

A representative for the actress confirmed the death, saying her family would remember her as an “incredible light” who brought “immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her”.

The statement from her father Skip read: “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.”

Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.

No cause of death has been announced.

The 36-year-old began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before going on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the hit TV series Nashville.

Her performances in Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, while her singing on the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

Scream co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram story, writing, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” alongside a broken heart emoji.

Commenting under Panettiere’s latest social media post after news of her death broke, actress Selma Blair said: “I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please.”

Singer JoJo wrote on her Instagram stories: “this is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God”, and Rosie O’Donnell shared a picture of Panettiere with the caption: “Oh my god – heartbroken.”

Following her rapid rise to fame, the pressure of the industry began to weigh on Panettiere – with the actress previously revealing that she had struggled with addiction throughout her 20s.

In a memoir published earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her struggles with mental health, the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter Kaya to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.

“The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn’t be further from the truth,” she told podcaster Jay Shetty after the release of her memoir in May.

Panettiere said her daughter had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid the actress’s struggles with addiction and mental health.

She said: “I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself.”

Actors’ union Sag-Aftra, of which the actress had been a member since 1994, said in a post on X: “We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere. A child actor, Hayden’s long career in TV & film included memorable roles in ‘Heroes,’ ‘Nashville’ & more. Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans.”

Published: 17/08/2026 by Radio NewsHub