American actor Hayden Panettiere, known for her performances in television series Nashville and Heroes, has died at the age of 36, US media reported on Sunday.
According to ABC News, Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement, describing her as an “incredible light” who brought joy to her family, friends and millions of viewers.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Her agency also did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Panettiere began her career as a child actor and gained early recognition for voicing Dot, a young princess ant, in Pixar’s 1998 animated film A Bug’s Life. Her performance on the film’s read-along album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
She rose to international prominence in 2006 after being cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet in NBC’s hit series Heroes. She also appeared in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, which starred Denzel Washington.
Panettiere received two Golden Globe nominations in 2013 and 2014 for her role as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville.
Her film credits also included appearances in the Scream horror franchise. Her most recent screen appearance was in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker, released in the United States in January 2026, according to IMDb.
Panettiere’s brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at the age of 28 from complications associated with an enlarged heart and an aortic valve condition, according to a family statement issued at the time.
