Who was Hayden Panettiere? 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' actress dead at 36 - Check cause of death

Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville', has died at 36. Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News on Sunday. Panettiere rose to fame as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with healing abilities on NBC’s 'Heroes'. She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes in the musical drama 'Nashville', a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the 'Scream' film franchise and several other movies and television projects. The actress began her career as a child performer and remained a familiar face in Hollywood for decades. Her death at such a young age has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and the entertainment community.

As of the latest reports, Panettiere’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Beyond her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville', Panettiere also appeared in films including 'I Love You', 'Beth Cooper', 'Scream 4' and 'Scream VI'. Her television credits also included the TV movie 'Amanda Knox'.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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," her representative said in a statement as quoted by ABC News.


Earlier this year, Panettiere released her candid memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning', in which she reflected on growing up in the public eye as a child star and discussed her struggles with addiction, postpartum depression and other personal challenges.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was in a relationship with Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2018. The couple welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Panettiere also experienced the loss of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at age 28 due to aortic valve complications.