American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday. No cause of death was disclosed.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father said, describing her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and joy to her family, friends and millions of fans.
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 on Friday, began her entertainment career as a child, appearing in commercials and television soap operas before establishing herself as a prominent young actress.
She rose to international prominence in 2006 after being cast as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with supernatural abilities, in NBC’s hit science-fiction drama Heroes. The series became a major television success and made Panettiere a household name.
Her performance earned her three Teen Choice Awards. She also received a Grammy nomination for a children’s spoken-word album several years after the release of the animated film A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere later took on another major television role in ABC’s Nashville, playing Juliette Barnes, a talented but troubled country music star alongside Connie Britton.
The series ran for four seasons on ABC before being cancelled and subsequently revived by CMT. Panettiere performed her own songs on the show, several of which charted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list.
During the series’ run, 11 songs featuring Panettiere appeared on the Billboard chart, including two collaborations with Britton. Her performance also earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
Beyond her acting career, Panettiere was also known for her work in film and other television productions, having built a career that spanned more than three decades from childhood into adulthood.
Her death comes three years after the death 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’s family has not announced further details regarding her death.
