The Heroes and Nashville actress has died aged 36, with details surrounding her death still unknown

Actress Hayden Panettiere, known around the world for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement shared with the BBC and other media, describing his daughter as an extraordinary presence who brought happiness to those around her and millions of people who watched her perform.

The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately disclosed.

Her family has asked for privacy as they come to terms with the loss.

Panettiere built a career spanning more than three decades after entering the entertainment industry when she was still a young child.

She was four when she joined the US soap opera One Life to Live, beginning a career that would take her from children’s television and animation to some of the most recognisable American television series of the 2000s and 2010s.

One of her early film roles came through Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, in which she voiced Dot.

She gained further attention after appearing alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans. Other film credits followed, including Raising Helen and the romantic comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper.

But one role would propel her to a much wider audience.

In 2006, Panettiere began playing Claire Bennet in Heroes, the NBC science fiction drama centred on ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities. Her character, a cheerleader capable of healing from serious injuries, became one of the show’s best-known figures.

Heroes ran until 2010.

Panettiere later found another major television role as Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Her portrayal of the ambitious country singer earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.

Her film career also included appearances in the Scream horror franchise, where she played Kirby Reed.

Tributes began appearing after news of her death emerged.

Melissa Barrera, who appeared with Panettiere in Scream, posted a tribute on Instagram, writing that she hoped her co-star would rest in peace.

Singer JoJo described the announcement as devastating, while actress Selma Blair left an emotional message beneath Panettiere’s latest social media post.

Actors’ union SAG-AFTRA also paid tribute, offering condolences to Panettiere’s daughter, relatives, friends and fans. She had been a member of the union since 1994.

Earlier in 2026, Panettiere published her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

The book explored her experience of growing up in the entertainment industry as a child actor, as well as her struggles with addiction, abuse and recovery.

Speaking to CBS News in May, she recalled being taken to auditions by her mother when she was just eight months old. By the age of five, she said she had already appeared in about 50 commercials.

Panettiere also spoke publicly over the years about postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya.

In 2015, she revealed that she had entered a treatment facility and later urged greater openness about postpartum depression and the impact it can have on women.

She subsequently wrote about her decision in 2018 to give full custody of Kaya to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Speaking on Jay Shetty’s podcast in May, Panettiere said suggestions that she had simply given away her daughter were deeply painful and did not reflect what had happened.

Panettiere is survived by Kaya.

Her death brings to an end a career that began in childhood and stretched across television, film and voice acting, from A Bug’s Life and Remember the Titans to the performances in Heroes and Nashville that made her internationally recognised.

Her family has not disclosed a cause of death.