Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36
The actress from Heroes and Nashville died suddenly at 36; her father issued an emotional statement asking for privacy.
Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, shocking Hollywood and fans worldwide. The American actress, best known for her roles in the TV series Heroes and Nashville and for appearances in the Scream film franchise, passed away unexpectedly.
Her death was confirmed by her father, Skip Panettiere, in an emotional statement.
Family statement and public reaction
Skip Panettiere wrote: "With deep sorrow we share the news of the tragic death 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 on screens." He asked for privacy for the family during this difficult time.
Panettiere began acting as a child and rose to international fame as high-schooler Claire Bennet on the hit series Heroes, famously associated with the slogan "Save the cheerleader, save the world." She later earned widespread acclaim and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville, and appeared in the Scream franchise.
Off camera, Panettiere struggled with addiction and with severe postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Because of those difficulties, she surrendered full custody of her daughter to Klitschko in 2018. In recent months she published candid memoirs titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, which became a bestseller and chronicled her recovery and childhood traumas.
Her death follows another family tragedy: in 2023 her younger brother, Jansen, died at 28 from a heart condition. That loss weighed heavily on her in the years that followed.
Only weeks before her sudden death, Panettiere posted a smiling photograph on Instagram beside longtime friend and photographer Randall Slavin. The caption read: "Good times and good friends." Thousands of fans have left emotional messages beneath that final post as they mourn the actress.
Photo: press material from the event
