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Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
In a statement, her father said: "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."
He asked for for privacy as the family processes this "unimaginable loss."
The cause of death was not immediately known.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya, who she had with her former partner, the Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere released her debut memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May 2026. In it, she chronicled her transition from child stardom to adult fame, and explored personal traumas including postpartum depression, alcoholism, and an abusive relationship.
Her brother Jansen Panettiere, also an actor, died in 2023 at the age of 28.
Panettiere’s Final Instagram Post
Panettiere shared her final post to Instagram on July 27.
In the black-and-white image, she is seen playfully winking at the camera and sticking her tongue out as photographer Randall Slavin wraps an arm around her.
“Good times and good friends @randallslavin,” she wrote in the caption.
Slavin shared the post on his Instagram story early Monday, writing: “Peace be with you, H.”
Hayden Panettiere's TV and Film Roles
Panettiere came to mainstream attention with her role as the cheerleader in Heroes in 2006, but she also starred in a host of other TV shows and movies from the 1990s until as recently as 2023.
TV
One Life to Live (1994–1997) – Sarah Victoria "Flash" Roberts
Guiding Light (1996–2000) – Lizzie Spaulding
Ally McBeal (2001–2002) – Maddie Harrington
Malcolm in the Middle (2003–2005) – Jessica (recurring guest role)
Heroes (2006–2010) – Claire Bennet (the regenerating cheerleader; breakout main role)
Nashville (2012–2018) – Juliette Barnes (country music star; earned two Golden Globe nominations)
Film
A Bug's Life (1998) – Princess Dot (voice role)
Remember the Titans (2000) – Sheryl Yoast
Racing Stripes (2005) – Channing Walsh
Ice Princess (2005) – Gen Harwood
Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) – Britney Allen
Fireflies in the Garden (2008) – Young Jane Lawrence
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) – Beth Cooper
Scream 4 (2011) – Kirby Reed
Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011) – Amanda Knox (TV movie)
Scream VI (2023) – Kirby Reed (reprised role as an FBI agent)
This is a developing story and will be updated.
