'Heroes' actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

American actress Hayden Panettiere, renowned for her portrayals in Heroes and Nashville, passed away at the age of 36. A statement from her father, Skip, revealed the tragic news, describing her as an "incredible light" who "brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her." Her father also requested privacy for the family during this difficult time.

Panettiere's acting career began in her youth, with appearances in soap operas and early recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans, alongside Denzel Washington. She gained widespread fame as the voice of Dot in Pixar's 1998 film A Bug's Life. Panettiere is best remembered for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes and as country singer Juliette Barnes in the hit TV series Nashville, for which she received two Golden Globe nominations. Her singing in Nashville resulted in 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Her filmography includes Bring It On: All Or Nothing (2006), Raising Helen, Scream 4, and Scream VI. Panettiere's brother, Jansen, died in 2023 at 28 due to complications from an enlarged heart and an aortic-valve condition. Her Scream co-star, Melissa Barrera, expressed her condolences on Instagram. Other celebrities, including Selma Blair, JoJo, and Rosie O'Donnell, also shared their grief over the actress's loss.