Hayden Panettiere’s representative confirmed her death in a statement Sunday.
Panettiere, 36, died, her representative said on Sunday. No cause of death or details about the circumstances were immediately provided.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her representative said in a statement.
“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,” the statement continued.
Panettiere was born August 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, just outside New York City. Her mother, Lesley R. Vogel, was a former soap opera actress, and her father, Alan Lee “Skip” Panettiere, worked as a fire captain. She began appearing in commercials at just eleven months old, with her mother initially hoping only to get some nice baby pictures.
Her full-time acting career started at age four when she landed the role of Sarah Roberts on the ABC daytime soap opera “One Life to Live,” where she stayed until 1996. She then moved to CBS to play Lizzie Spaulding on “Guiding Light” from 1996 to 2000, earning a Young Star Award nomination for her work.
Panettiere transitioned to film with voice roles in Disney’s “A Bug’s Life” in 1998 and “Dinosaur” in 2000, and appeared in the live-action “Remember the Titans” in 2000 at age ten. She also had a recurring role as Maddie Harrington on the final season of “Ally McBeal.”
Her major breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet, the indestructible cheerleader, on NBC’s “Heroes.” The show became a cultural phenomenon, and the network’s advertising campaign built around the line “Save the cheerleader, save the world” made her one of television’s most recognizable young stars. “Heroes” ran for four seasons until 2010.
After “Heroes,” Panettiere starred in films including “I Love You, Beth Cooper” in 2009 and Wes Craven’s “Scream 4” in 2011. She returned to the “Scream” franchise in 2023 with “Scream VI,” reprising her role as Kirby Reed.
Her most acclaimed work came on the ABC musical drama “Nashville,” which premiered in 2012. Panettiere played Juliette Barnes, a rising country music star, opposite Connie Britton’s established performer. The role earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 2012 and 2013. “Nashville” aired six seasons, moving to CMT for its final two years, and concluded in July 2018.
Panettiere was open about her personal struggles, including postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014 with then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, the professional boxing champion. The couple separated in 2018.
She also faced profound loss with the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor. Jansen died suddenly in February 2023 from cardiomegaly coupled with aortic valve complications at age 28. In a tribute posted to Instagram on the two-year anniversary of his death, Hayden wrote, “2 years ago today, I lost my little brother,” She added, “This amazing human being touched the lives of so many. Especially mine. The pain isn’t quantifiable.”
In September 2024, she said about her grief, saying, “I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”
Panettiere’s career spanned nearly her entire life, from infancy in commercials through her final film roles. In addition to her screen work, she contributed to video game voice acting, notably as Kairi in the “Kingdom Hearts” series, and released music tied to her “Nashville” role, including the single “Telescope.”
She was also known for activism, particularly around animal rights and mental health awareness. In 2007, she joined protesters in Japan attempting to save pilot whales from hunters, and she later worked with organizations including the Whaleman Foundation.