The actress, who began performing as a child before starring in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, died Sunday in South Carolina.
Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose to fame as Claire Bennet on Heroes before earning acclaim for her performance as Juliette Barnes on Nashville, died Sunday at the age of 36.
Panettiere died in Greenville, South Carolina. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement shared through her representative.
"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 said.
The circumstances surrounding Panettiere's death remain under investigation by the Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner's Office. Authorities said the preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. A cause of death has not been announced.
Panettiere grew up in Palisades, New York, and began appearing in commercials when she was just 11 months old. Her first major television role came as Sarah Roberts on ABC's One Life to Live, where she appeared from 1994 to 1997. She later appeared on Guiding Light and Ally McBeal before becoming a household name as Claire Bennet on Heroes.
Her portrayal of the seemingly indestructible high school cheerleader became one of the defining characters of Heroes, which debuted in 2006 and became a major television hit.
Panettiere later starred as Juliette Barnes on Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She remained with the musical drama throughout its six-season run.
Her film career began while she was still a child. Panettiere appeared in Remember the Titans and went on to star in films including Raising Helen, Ice Princess, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Horror fans knew her as Kirby Reed in Scream 4, a role she returned to more than a decade later in Scream VI. Her return to the franchise in 2023 also marked her return to acting after several years away from the screen.
Away from acting, Panettiere spoke openly about difficult periods in her life, including postpartum depression and addiction. Earlier this year, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she reflected on growing up in the entertainment industry, her personal relationships, motherhood and her efforts to rebuild her life.
Her willingness to speak publicly about those experiences became another part of her connection with fans, particularly as she discussed the pressures of growing up in Hollywood and the challenges she faced away from the camera.
Panettiere's career stretched from daytime television and family films to network dramas and one of horror's most successful franchises, allowing audiences to watch her grow from a child performer into an accomplished actress over more than three decades.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, and her parents. Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at the age of 28.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
