Hayden Panettiere: Actor in Heroes and Nashville dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the actor known for her roles in television shows such as Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.

Panettiere's death was confirmed in a statement from her representative to the Guardian on Sunday night, after it was first reported on US network ABC News. No cause of death was given.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, released a statement saying, "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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".

A police spokesperson told Variety that "an acquaintance" of the actor placed an emergency call and that the "preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances". A statement from the Greenville County coroner's office said that responders found a woman in cardiac arrest and an autopsy found no signs of trauma.

Born in 1989, Panettiere was a child star who began acting at just 11 months old, appearing in a toy commercial. She made her big screen debut as the voice of Dot in A Bug's Life, aged nine.

In 2000, she appeared in Remember the Titans. In 2004, she landed her first starring role as the daughter of Bill Pullman's character in Tiger Cruise on the Disney Channel.

Panettiere rose to global fame at the age of 17 as the invulnerable cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes, a series with the well-known, mysterious mantra: "Save the cheerleader, save the world." The show was a hit and ran for four seasons between 2006 and 2010.

Panettiere also earned two Golden Globe nominations for her performance as the troubled country music star Juliette Barnes on Nashville. Eleven songs that Panettiere recorded for Nashville appeared on Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts during the show's run, including two featuring her co-star Connie Britton.

She also appeared as Kirby Reed in 2011's Scream 4 and 2023's Scream VI. Her co-stars have paid tribute online. David Arquette commented on a post, writing: "I love you Hayden" while Melissa Barrera shared a story with the words "Rest in peace sweet Hayden".

In 2014 she gave birth to her daughter, Kaya Klitschko, whom she had with her ex-fiance, the Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Panettiere gave full custody to Klitschko in 2018 in order to focus on recovering from what she called a "horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse".

She entered rehab in 2015 while filming Nashville, which ended up informing some of the show's storylines.

Earlier this year she published a memoir titled This is Me: A Reckoning, which touched on her struggles with fame, postpartum depression, addiction and recovery. In the book Panettiere wrote about the troubling link she made between acting and love: "Directors, fans, and Mom praised me endlessly for my over-the-top dramatic responses. Subconsciously, I began to associate catastrophe with adoration; people loved me because make-believe bad things happened to me."

Panettiere is survived by her father, Skip Panettiere, and her mother, Lesley Vogel, who is also her former manager. Panettiere's brother Jansen died suddenly in 2023 at the age of 28 from cardiomegaly - an enlarged heart - coupled with aortic valve complications.

## Tributes Pour In

Panettiere's co-stars and friends have paid tribute to her online. Oscar-winner Viola Davis, who starred with Panettiere in drama Custody, shared a tribute on Instagram. "What an amazing talent you were … so gifted", she wrote. Davis added: "I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered."

Panettiere's Heroes co-star Masi Oka also wrote that she was "way wiser beyond her years" when they worked together. "Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Hayden," he posted online. "I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I'll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent, and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did and the people around her."

## A Life of Struggle and Triumph

Panettiere's life was marked by struggles with fame, depression, and addiction, but also by her determination to overcome them. She entered rehab in 2015 while filming Nashville, which ended up informing some of the show's storylines. In a 2022 interview, she said, "This hasn't been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs. But I don't regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance."

Panettiere's memoir, This is Me: A Reckoning, touched on her struggles with fame, postpartum depression, addiction and recovery. In the book, she wrote about the troubling link she made between acting and love: "Directors, fans, and Mom praised me endlessly for my over-the-top dramatic responses. Subconsciously, I began to associate catastrophe with adoration; people loved me because make-believe bad things happened to me."

## A Legacy of Talent and Resilience

Panettiere's legacy will be remembered for her incredible talent and resilience in the face of adversity. She will be deeply missed by her fans and the entertainment industry.