Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, has died at 36, her family confirmed Sunday.
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, announced her death in a statement to ABC News, describing his daughter as “an incredible light” and a “force of nature.” The family asked for privacy as they mourned her death. No cause of death has been announced.
What Happened Before Her Death
According to a statement from police in Greenville, South Carolina, officers and emergency medical personnel responded Sunday afternoon to a report involving an unconscious woman. The woman, later identified as Panettiere, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, but initial findings did not indicate criminal or suspicious circumstances. A person close to Panettiere reportedly made the emergency call.
Reports cited by BILD said Panettiere and her on-and-off partner, Brian Hickerson, had traveled from Los Angeles toward the South the day before her death. Authorities have not publicly said that the trip was connected to her death.
A Career That Began in Childhood
Panettiere began working in entertainment as a young child, appearing in commercials and television soap operas before moving into film and television.
Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative powers, on NBC’s Heroes. The series made Panettiere internationally famous and turned her into one of television’s most recognizable young stars.
She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville. Her performance earned two Golden Globe nominations, while songs she performed for the series also appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. She returned to the Scream franchise in Scream VI in 2023.
Panettiere Had Spoken Openly About Personal Struggles
In recent years, Panettiere had been candid about depression, anxiety, addiction and postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
She entered rehabilitation in 2015 while working on Nashville and later discussed her recovery publicly. In interviews, she described years of struggling with mental health and substance abuse and explained that the challenges affected her ability to care for her daughter.
Earlier in 2026, Panettiere published a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she reflected on fame, motherhood, postpartum depression, addiction and her path toward recovery.
She also discussed her relationship with her daughter during a May appearance on Jay Shetty’s podcast. Panettiere said she continued to miss Kaya and hoped they would have a close relationship in the future.
Her Family Faces Another Loss
Panettiere’s death comes three years after the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor. Jansen died in 2023 at age 28 from an enlarged heart and related aortic valve complications.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, as well as her parents, Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the actress’s death remain under investigation, while authorities have not announced a cause of death.
Panettiere leaves behind a career that spanned more than three decades, from child acting roles to international television fame. Her performances in Heroes and Nashville made her a household name, while her openness about her personal struggles gave fans a glimpse of the challenges she faced away from the screen.
Source: bild.de
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