Hayden Panettiere, ‘Heroes,’ ‘Nashville’ And ‘Scream’ Star, Dies At 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes," "Nashville" and the "Scream" franchise, has died at 36. Her representatives confirmed her passing, describing her as "an incredible light and a force of nature." Panettiere's death follows the recent release of her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." In it, she candidly discussed her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction, trauma, and domestic abuse, alongside the loss of her brother in 2023. The cause of death was not released. Panettiere began her career as a child actress, appearing in "One Life to Live" and films like "Remember the Titans," also voicing characters in "A Bug's Life" and "Dinosaur."

Hayden Panettiere, a former child actress who transitioned into a successful career as an adult in film and television with such shows as Heroes, Nashville and two Scream films, has died.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s representative told ABC News 7 in Los Angeles in a statement on Sunday night. “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.”

Hayden Panettiere’s death follows the release of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May, in which she details personal struggles, including postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, trauma and domestic abuse, as well as the loss of her brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere, at age 28 in 2023.

Hayden Panettiere was 36. Her cause of death was not released.

Panettiere played Claire Bennet, a cheerleader who gained superpowers in Heroes, and in Nashville, she starred as country music singer Juliette Barnes. In 2011’s Scream 4, she played Kir As a child, Panettiere had a recurring role in the daytime drama One Life to Live, and in the films Remember the Titans and Racing Stripes.

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She also contributed voice roles to the movie hits A Bug’s Life (as Dot) and Dinosaur (as Suri).

Born Hayden Leslie Panettiere on Aug. 21, 1989, in Palisades, N.Y., Panettiere’s screen debut was in 1994, in the recurring role of Sarah Roberts in the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. The show marked the first of more than 70 TV and film projects the actress appeared in throughout her career.

Panettiere appeared in 27 episodes of One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997, which was followed Panettiere appeared in 47 episodes of the series from 1997 to 2000.

Amid her work on TV, Panettiere landed a role in the 1998 Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd romantic comedy drama The Object of My Affection and the 2000 football drama Remember the Titans, where she starred opposite Denzel Washington and Will Patton. In 2001, she also played a supporting role in the Tim Allen comedy Joe Somebody.

From 2003 to 2004, Panettiere appeared in the guest role of Jessica in the hit ABC sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. In 2005, the actress starred in the lead role in the animal adventure comedy Racing Stripes.

Panettiere’s star rose considerably as a teen star in the NBC superhero drama Heroes, where she played Claire over 73 episodes alongside the likes of Zachary Quinto and Milo Ventimiglia from 2006 to 2010.