American actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36: Report

American actress Hayden Panettiere passed away at the age of 36, her family announced on Sunday (Aug 16) through a statement released by her publicist, Kasey Kitchen. The cause of death has not been disclosed, as the investigation into her passing is ongoing. Panettiere, a highly accomplished actress, had been nominated for a Grammy and two Golden Globe awards.

Born and raised in London, Panettiere started her acting career at a young age, gaining recognition for her voice role as Dot, the young princess ant in Pixar's 1998 animated film A Bug's Life. She earned a Grammy nomination for her work on the film's read-along album. Panettiere rose to fame with her portrayal of Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with superpowers, in the NBC serialised hit Heroes (2006-2010). Her performance in the show was based on the mantra "Save the cheerleader, save the world."

Apart from Heroes, Panettiere also appeared in films such as Nashville (2010), Remember The Titans (2000), and the Scream franchise. She was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2013 and 2014 for her role as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville.

Panettiere's memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, delved into the trauma surrounding the difficult birth of her daughter in 2014 and her struggles with postpartum depression and alcohol addiction. She also spoke about estrangement from her mother, who managed her career as a child and criticized her book.

Panettiere was married to former UFC world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. They have a daughter named Kaya, who lives with Klitschko in Ukraine. Panettiere had been open about her battles with depression and alcohol addiction, and had sought help and custody of her daughter to focus on her recovery.

Actress Viola Davis, who starred alongside Panettiere in the 2016 film Custody, paid tribute to her, describing her as an "old, wise soul with such a deep heart" and calling her a "beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes."