American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News on Monday, August 17, 2026. No cause or circumstances surrounding her death had been disclosed at the time of the announcement.
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, paid tribute to his daughter, describing her as an extraordinary person whose presence brought happiness and love to those around her.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he 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.”
He also appealed for privacy as the family comes to terms with the loss.
Panettiere began her career in entertainment as a child before establishing herself as a successful actress in television and film. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of cheerleader Claire Bennet in the popular television series Heroes.
She later took on another major role as country music star Juliette Barnes in Nashville, further cementing her place in the entertainment industry.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4. She also reprised her role as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise in the 2023 movie.
Beyond her acting career, Panettiere openly discussed some of the personal struggles she experienced throughout her life. Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May, explored difficult chapters including postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma, domestic abuse and grief.
In a 2022 interview with Good Morning America, she discussed her battle with alcohol addiction and postpartum depression, acknowledging the difficulties she faced while trying to cope with both.
Panettiere was also a mother to a daughter, Kaya Klitschko, whom she welcomed in 2014 during her relationship with former fiancé and heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Her life was further marked by the devastating loss of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at the age of 28.
Hayden Panettiere’s death comes just days before what would have been her 37th birthday, marking a tragic end to the life of an actress who began working in Hollywood from a young age and became a familiar face to millions of television and film viewers.
