American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in television series such as “Nashville” and “Heroes,” has died at the age of 36, according to U.S. media outlets like ABC News on Sunday, citing a statement from her father.
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“It is with deep sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an extraordinary light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her and to the millions who saw her on screen,” said her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, according to ABC News, who did not report the cause of her death, and the circumstances of her passing remain unknown.
Panettiere received two Golden Globe nominations for her role in “Nashville”
Panettiere, who began her career as a child actress, gained wide recognition by voicing Dot, the young ant princess in Pixar’s 1998 animated film “A Bug’s Life.” Her work on the film’s album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
She rose to fame playing Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with superpowers, in the successful NBC series “Heroes,” which premiered in 2006. She also appeared in the 2000 sports drama “Remember the Titans,” starring Denzel Washington.
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Panettiere received two Golden Globe nominations, in 2013 and 2014, for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for her role as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama “Nashville.” She was also part of the satirical horror franchise “Scream.”
Panettiere’s most recent appearance was in the psychological thriller “Sleepwalker,” released in the United States in January 2026, in which she played a grieving mother suffering from episodes of sleepwalking, according to IMDb.
Her brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at the age of 28 due to complications related to an enlarged heart and an aortic valve condition, the family told U.S. media that same year.
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