Hayden Panettiere Dead at 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere has passed away at the age of 36, according to TMZ. A representative for the late star released a statement to ABC News, expressing sorrow over her death and praising her positive impact on those around her. The cause of death remains unclear at this time. On Sunday afternoon, EMS in Greenville, South Carolina responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive woman who was experiencing possible cardiac arrest.

Despite resuscitation efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. local time. Police stated that there were no apparent signs of foul play and that the circumstances surrounding her death did not appear suspicious. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday to confirm the exact cause and manner of her death. Panettiere began her acting career as a child, with her first notable role being the voice of Dot in A Bug's Life (1998) and another voice performance in Disney's Dinosaur (2000).

She gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes, where she played a cheerleader who possessed superhuman abilities. Panettiere starred in 73 episodes of Heroes before the show concluded in 2010. Following her time on Heroes, she took on the role of Juliette Barnes in the ABC country music drama Nashville, which she portrayed for the show's full six-season run from 2010 to 2016.

In addition to her television work, Panettiere appeared in several films, including the teen rom-com I Love You, Beth Cooper (2010) and the sequels Scream 4 (2011) and Scream VI (2019). She also had a supporting role in Kirby Reed's FBI agent character in Scream VI. Panettiere welcomed her daughter in 2014, though she did not have custody at the time of her passing.

In 2023, her brother Jansen died due to heart issues. Panettiere published her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May 2026, in which she candidly discussed her struggles with mental illness and substance abuse.