In pictures: Hayden Panettiere's life and career, from child actor to Scream star

Hayden Panettiere, best known for her role as Claire Bennett in the hit TV series Heroes, has passed away at the age of 36. The actress' death was confirmed on Sunday night, with no cause of her demise disclosed. In a statement, her father Skip Panettiere expressed deep sorrow over his beloved daughter's sudden passing. He described her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy" to everyone around her.

Panettiere had earned two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of a troubled country music star in the TV show Nashville. She also appeared in two Scream films, Scream 4 and Scream 6, following her stint in the franchise. However, it was her role in Heroes that catapulted her to stardom. She played the cheerleader Claire Bennett, whose presence was integral to the show's mantra, "Save the cheerleader, save the world."

Beyond her acting career, Panettiere had made a mark in the gaming industry. She starred alongside Rami Malek in Until Dawn, a horror game that she voiced and provided motion-capture for. She also lent her voice to Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series of games. Panettiere had recently released a memoir titled This is Me: A Reckoning, which detailed her battles with fame, postpartum depression, addiction, and recovery.

In 2014, Panettiere welcomed a daughter with Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Kitschko. The child now lives with her father, as Kitschko had done since 2018.