Hayden Panettiere, star of TV series Heroes and Nashville, dead at 36

Hayden Panettiere, an American actress, has died at the age of 36. Her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement to ABC News, describing her as "an incredible light and a force of nature" who brought joy to those who knew her and millions of fans.

Panettiere had a prolific career spanning TV, film, and video games, dating back to 1996. She was known for her roles in TV series "Heroes" and "Nashville", as well as films like "Remember the Titans", "Scream 4" and "Scream VI". According to CBC News, her role as Claire Bennet in "Heroes" propelled her to fame, with the series revolving around the mantra "Save the cheerleader, save the world".

An investigation into the cause of her death is ongoing, with details not yet publicly disclosed. Panettiere's family has asked for privacy as they process their loss. She had written a memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning", which was released in May, detailing her experiences as a child star, addiction, and recovery. Tributes to Panettiere have been pouring in from family, friends, co-stars, celebrities, and fans.

Brief written by urgent.news from CBC News, PC Gamer, The Citizen, Mashable, Daily Maverick — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.