Hayden Panettiere, the American actress known for her roles in television series including “Heroes” and “Nashville,” passed away unexpectedly in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday at the age of 36.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the death in a statement shared by her publicist. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement said. “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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Authorities in Greenville reported that officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Sunday. Medical assistance was provided, and Panettiere was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner’s Office are investigating. The preliminary investigation has indicated no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and no official cause of death has been disclosed as of this report.
Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at 36https://t.co/8kkmtCJMiO pic.twitter.com/Zk25kHGN2O
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 17, 2026
Panettiere, a native of Palisades, New York, was an actress for her entire life, as she began appearing in television commercials when she was just 11-months-old. Her acting career started in earnest at age four with a role as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live,” which she played from 1994 to 1997. She then portrayed Lizzie Spaulding on the CBS soap opera “Guiding Light” from 1996 to 2000.
Panettiere expanded into film with voice work, including the role of Dot in the animated feature “A Bug’s Life” (1998) and providing the voice of Suri in “Dinosaur” (2000).
Her early live-action film credits included a supporting role as Sheryl Yoast in “Remember the Titans” (2000), opposite Denzel Washington. Additional film roles followed in “Joe Somebody” (2001), “Raising Helen” (2004), “Racing Stripes” (2005), “Ice Princess” (2005), and “Bring It On: All or Nothing” (2006).
She gained wider recognition for her portrayal of Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with regenerative abilities, on the NBC series “Heroes” from 2006 to 2010. The role established her as a prominent figure in television. During this period she also appeared in the romantic comedy “I Love You, Beth Cooper” (2009) and joined the horror franchise as Kirby Reed in “Scream 4” (2011). She later returned to the character in “Scream VI” (2023).
From 2012 to 2018, Panettiere starred as Juliette Barnes, an ambitious country music singer, on the ABC/CMT series “Nashville.” The performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film. She also contributed to the show’s soundtrack and charted songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list.
Later credits included the television film “Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy” (2011), “Custody” (2016), “Amber Alert” (2024), and “Sleepwalker” (2026). In May 2026 she published the memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she discussed aspects of her personal life and career.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, from her relationship with former boxer Wladimir Klitschko; her father, Skip Panettiere; and her mother, Lesley Vogel. Her brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023.
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