Tributes are pouring in for US actor Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, who has died aged 36.
A representative for the actress confirmed the death to US network ABC on Sunday, saying her family would remember her “incredible light” who brought “immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her”.
The statement from her father Skip read: “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.”
Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.
No cause of death has been announced.
The 36-year-old began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before going on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the hit TV series Nashville.
Her performances in Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, while her singing on the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Follow the latest updates below....
Hayden on her brother's death: 'I lost half my soul'
08:10 , Ekin Karasin
Panettiere’s younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly aged 28 in 2023.
The Walking Dead star died from cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, coupled with aortic valve complications.
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” Panettiere told People. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.
“I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over his loss.”
She developed agoraphobia after his death, and eventually found relief through regular walks with her personal trainer.
In February 2025, on the second anniversary of Jansen's death, she wrote: “2 years ago today, I lost my little brother. The pain isn't quantifiable.”
Rosie O'Donnell leads celeb tributes
08:00 , Ekin Karasin
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell shared a photo of Panettiere from the 2006 film Bring It On: All or Nothing, and wrote on Instagram: “Oh my god – heartbroken.”
Singer JoJo described the news as “devastating”, adding: "I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh my god.”
7th Heaven actor Beverley Mitchell commented on Panettiere’s final Instagram post: “Praying the news is wrong! You are such a bright light and soooo loved!!!!”
Hayden's poignant final Instagram post
07:49 , Ekin Karasin
Just two weeks ago, Panettiere shared a picture of her appearing in good spirits beside Hollywood photographer Randall Slavin.
The snap was captioned “Good times and good friends.”
Slavin has re-shared the image to his story in a touching tribute to his friend, writing “Peace be with you, H”.
Hayden on life after giving birth: 'I was so depressed'
07:36 , Ekin Karasin
Scream co-stars share devastation
07:27 , Ekin Karasin
Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in Scream VI, shared a tribute to Panettiere on her Instagram Stories writing: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.”
They starred together in the 2023 horror film, with Panettiere reprising her role as Kirby Reed, the character she first played in 2011’s Scream 4.
Panettiere had defended Barrera after she was dropped from Scream 7, describing the move as “very unfair and upsetting”.
David Arquette, a veteran of the Scream franchise who has appeared in many of the films, wrote on social media, “I love you Hayden,” with a broken heart emoji.
He had attended a horror convention with Panettiere in February.
Jay Shetty remembers 'moving interview' with Hayden
07:16 , Ekin Karasin
Jay Shetty had an emotional conversation with Panettiere on his On Purpose podcast just weeks before her death.
“I can’t believe it. Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans,” he wrote on Instagram.
In an episode airing in May, Panettiere spoke to Shetty about the pressures of becoming famous as a child.
She said she lost “the innocence of a normal childhood”, adding: “I felt like I was alone in a room full of people,.”
The star also reflected on her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression after her daughter Kaya’s birth.
Selma Blair: 'I love you'
07:09 , Michael Howie
Selma Blair worked with Panettiere as a child actor - and has posted an emotional tribute to the star.
Commenting on Panettiere’s final Instagram post from July 27, the Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions star wrote: “I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please.”
In another post, she wrote: “I’m dying. Please be here.”
Mental health struggles
07:01 , Michael Howie
In a memoir published earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her struggles with mental health, the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter Kyra to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.
“The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn’t be further from the truth,” she told podcaster Jay Shetty after the release of her memoir in May.
Panettiere said her daughter had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid the actress’s struggles with addiction and mental health.
She said: “I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself.”
Child actor who became huge TV and film star
07:00 , Michael Howie
Hayden Panettiere first appeared on screens as a child in soap operas, before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.
Her big breakthrough came when she began playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes.
She went on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the hit TV series Nashville.
Panettiere film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36
06:54 , Michael Howie
Hayden Panettiere’s agent has confirmed the death of the US actress at the age of 36.
The cause of the US actress’s death has not been announced.
She was best known for her roles in the smash-hit TV shows Heroes and Nashville.
The statement from her father Skip read: “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.”
Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.
