Actress Hayden Panettiere dead at 36: reports

Hayden Panettiere, the 36-year-old actress, has passed away, according to a statement released by her father to ABC News. The statement expressed profound sadness at the news of her tragic passing. The father described his daughter as an incredible light and force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her, as well as millions who watched her onscreen.

He requested privacy for his family during their process of coping with this unimaginable loss. The cause of her death has not been confirmed yet, with TMZ reporting an open investigation into the matter.

Born in 1989, Panettiere rose to fame as a child star, going on to have numerous roles in film and television. Her film credits include "Remember the Titans," "Ice Princess," "Scream 4," and "Scream VI." She also authored a memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning," released in May. In that book, she candidly discussed the pressures of being a child star, her struggles with addiction and recovery, and her estrangement from her mother. Her mother had managed her career as a child and later criticized her daughter's book.