Hayden Panettiere, 'Heroes' Star, Dies at 36
The actress, known for 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' as well as the 'Scream' films, passed away yesterday; the cause of death has not yet been determined.
The actress, known for 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' as well as the 'Scream' films, passed away yesterday; the cause of death has not yet been determined.
American actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, her publicist confirmed to ABC News. The news of her death was announced today, and according to reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the actress passed away yesterday, August 16, 2026.
Panettiere was best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville. The Hollywood Reporter also cites other notable projects in her filmography, including the films I Love You, Beth Cooper, Scream 4, and Scream VI, as well as the television film Amanda Knox.
Variety highlights her roles in Heroes and in Scream 4 and Scream 6, while Finnish public broadcaster YLE notes that the actress was also known for her role in Heroes and in several films from the Scream franchise.
Her acting career began back in 1996, with early projects including voicing the character Dot in the animated film A Bug's Life and a role in Remember the Titans. She gained widespread popularity as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with supernatural powers in the series Heroes, which became memorable for the slogan "Save the cheerleader, save the world." Panettiere started her career as a child actress in commercials and soap operas, and her role in Heroes in 2006 catapulted her to stardom. In addition to those mentioned, she also appeared in films such as Raising Helen and Remember the Titans.
Panettiere was in a long-term relationship with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she has a daughter, Kaya, born in 2014. The couple split in 2018. The actress spoke publicly about her battles with alcohol addiction and depression, especially after the birth of her daughter. She also wrote about these experiences in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published in May of this year, in which she described her decision to grant full custody of her daughter to her former partner. Three years ago, her brother Jansen also passed away suddenly at the age of 28 from heart issues.
The cause of death has not yet been determined. The Hollywood Reporter notes that details surrounding her death are unknown and that they have reached out to her representative for further information. Variety also confirms that the cause of death was not immediately known. Rolling Stone writes that the actress's representative did not immediately respond to their inquiry.
"With deep sorrow, we share the tragic loss of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immense love and joy to everyone who knew her, as well as to the millions who watched her on screen," her father, Skip Panettiere, told ABC News.
The news of her death was reported today, August 17, 2026, by numerous international media outlets, including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Finland's YLE, whose journalist Elise Aaltonen relayed the statement from the actress's representative. Panettiere would have turned 37 on Friday.
