Beloved Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles on 'Heroes' and 'Nashville,' has died at the age of 36. Her representative confirmed the news in a statement to ABC News.

'It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,' the statement read. '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.'

A cause of death has not been reported.

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Panettiere's acting career spanned over two decades, starting with roles in children's shows such as 'One Life to Live' and 'Guiding Light.' She went on to appear in TV series like 'Ally McBeal,' 'Law & Order: SVU,' and 'Malcolm in the Middle' before landing a starring role on NBC's 'Heroes' in 2006.

She played Claire Bennet, a virtually indestructible high school cheerleader, in all four seasons until the series ended in 2010. Panettiere later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on 'Nashville,' which aired from 2012 to 2016.

'Remember the Titans,' 'Raising Helen,' and 'Ice Princess' are some of her notable film credits. Her most recent credit came in 2026 for the psychological thriller 'Sleepwalker.' In May, she released a memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning,' reflecting on childhood fame, motherhood, mental health, and the loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023.