The actress, who began working as a child and later became a television star, died Sunday, with no cause immediately announced.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose from child stardom to major roles on the television series “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died Sunday, Aug. 16, at age 36, her representative confirmed.
Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, announced her death in a family statement. He remembered his daughter as a vibrant presence who brought joy to those who knew her and to viewers who followed her work. The family asked for privacy while grieving. Further details about the circumstances of her death were not immediately released, and a cause of death had not been made public.
Panettiere spent nearly her entire life in entertainment. Her professional acting career began in 1994 with a role on the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live.” She later appeared on “Guiding Light” and moved into film and other television projects. As a child, she voiced Princess Dot in Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” and played the football-loving daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast in the 2000 sports drama “Remember the Titans.”
Her biggest television breakthrough came in 2006 when she joined NBC’s “Heroes” as Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with the supernatural ability to heal from serious injuries. The role made Panettiere internationally recognizable and became closely associated with the show during its four-season run. She followed “Heroes” with film work that included “Scream 4,” in which she played Kirby Reed.
Panettiere found another major television role in 2012 as Juliette Barnes on the musical drama “Nashville.” She starred opposite Connie Britton and remained with the series through its sixth and final season in 2018. Her performance as the ambitious and troubled country singer earned her Golden Globe nominations in 2013 and 2014. The series also allowed Panettiere to showcase her singing, and she released music during her career.
After several years away from acting, Panettiere returned to the “Scream” franchise in 2023, reprising her role as Kirby Reed in “Scream VI.” She later appeared in “Amber Alert,” “A Breed Apart” and the psychological thriller “Sleepwalker,” which was released in theaters in January 2026. Her return came after a period in which she had spoken publicly about stepping away from work and dealing with difficult years in her personal life.
Panettiere had been open about her struggles with alcoholism, addiction and postpartum depression. She became a mother in December 2014 when she and her former fiancé, Ukrainian former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, welcomed their daughter, Kaya. Panettiere later agreed that Kaya would live primarily with Klitschko while the actress sought treatment. In interviews years later, she said she remained closely connected to her daughter and rejected suggestions that the arrangement meant she had abandoned her.
Earlier in 2026, Panettiere published the memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she wrote about growing up in the entertainment industry, addiction and recovery, motherhood, trauma and the pressures that followed decades of fame. During interviews promoting the book, she spoke about the personal work she continued to do and her hope that discussing mental health openly could help other people facing similar struggles.
Her later years were also shaped by the death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at age 28. Their family later said he died from complications involving an enlarged heart and an aortic valve condition. Hayden Panettiere subsequently spoke publicly about the depth of her grief and said the loss of her only sibling remained with her as she returned to work and public life.
Panettiere was born Aug. 21, 1989, and would have turned 37 less than a week after her death. She is survived by her daughter and her parents. As of early Monday, her family and representatives had not released a cause of death or additional information about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Author note: Last updated August 17, 2026.