Hayden Panettiere, who grew up on screen and became a star in Heroes and Nashville, has died at 36. Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News.
In a statement, her father, Skip Panettiere, called her “an incredible light and a force of nature” and asked for privacy while the family grieves. Details about her death were not immediately released.
A career that started in childhood
Panettiere began acting as a young child and built a career across film and television. Her best-known roles include:
- Claire Bennet, the indestructible cheerleader in NBC’s Heroes (2006–2010)
- Juliette Barnes, the ambitious country star in Nashville
- Films including Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4, and her return as Kirby Reed in 2023’s Scream VI
Openness about her struggles
Panettiere spoke honestly about her mental health. In a 2022 Good Morning America interview, she described struggling with alcoholism and postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. She said the years around Nashville had been very hard and that she needed a break.
In February 2023, her younger brother, Jansen, died suddenly at 28 of an enlarged heart and aortic valve complications. She spoke publicly about her grief in the years after.
Remembering Hayden
For a generation of viewers, Panettiere was part of growing up. She was the girl who couldn’t be hurt in Heroes, and later a fierce, funny presence in Nashville. Her willingness to talk about postpartum depression and addiction helped many parents feel less alone. Our thoughts are with her daughter and family.
If you or someone you know is struggling with postpartum depression or substance use, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) and the SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offer free, confidential support 24/7.
