Hayden Panettiere, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ star, dies at 36

American actress Hayden Panettiere passed away at the age of 36, her representative confirmed on Sunday. The news of her untimely death was announced through a statement where her representative praised her as an "incredible light and a force of nature" who brought joy to many. The cause of her death remains undisclosed according to US reports.

Panettiere was born in New York in 1989 and began her acting career in commercials at the age of one. She gained recognition for her role as Claire Bennet in the superhero series "Heroes" in 2006 and later portrayed troubled country singer Juliette Barnes in "Nashville", earning her two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.

In addition to her television work, Panettiere appeared in several films such as "Remember the Titans", "I Love You, Beth Cooper" and "Scream 4", and lent her voice to animated projects including "A Bug's Life". In May 2024, she published her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning", where she openly discussed her experiences with child stardom, motherhood, addiction, postpartum depression, and the tragic loss of her younger brother Jansen Panettiere in 2023. She is survived by her daughter, Kaya.