The actress, who rose to fame as a child star before becoming an outspoken advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, died Sunday in South Carolina. Her family has asked for privacy as an investigation into the cause of death continues.
Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for playing indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes” and country star Juliette Barnes on ABC’s “Nashville,” has died at age 36, her representative confirmed.
What We Know
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman Sunday afternoon. Authorities said the preliminary investigation “has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” though an official cause of death has not been released. Her publicist said an investigation remains ongoing.
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement shared with ABC News.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.” He asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Panettiere would have turned 37 later this week.
A Career That Started in Infancy 
Panettiere began working as a child model and commercial actress before she was even a year old, and went on to build a decades-long career in Hollywood. She appeared in the film “Remember the Titans” as a child and later starred in “Bring It On: All or Nothing” and “I Love You, Beth Cooper.”
Her breakout role came as a teenager, playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on “Heroes,” which ran on NBC from 2006 to 2010 and made her one of the most recognizable young stars on television. She later headlined “Nashville” as rising country music star Juliette Barnes for six seasons, and returned to the “Scream” franchise as Kirby Reed, a character she first played in 2011’s “Scream 4.”
Speaking Openly About Struggle
In recent years, Panettiere became known not just for her acting work but for her candor about mental health, addiction, and recovery. She spoke publicly about postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, and about her struggles with alcohol addiction.
In May, she released a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she wrote about growing up in the spotlight, her mental health, and the personal losses that shaped her. She told The Hollywood Reporter she had been careful in how she told those stories, saying she felt “fiercely protective of people” in her writing.
Panettiere had also spoken about the grief of losing her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at age 28 from complications related to an enlarged heart. “I will never be able to get over it,” she told People in 2025. “No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.”
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former partner Wladimir Klitschko, the retired heavyweight boxing champion.
Remembering Hayden Panettiere
Tributes poured in from fans and former co-stars following news of her death, remembering both her work on screen and the openness she brought to discussing her personal struggles in later years.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357, both available 24/7.
