Actor Hayden Panettiere dies at 36

Actor Hayden Panettiere dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the American actor recognized for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her death was confirmed by her representatives on Sunday night, following an initial report from ABC News.

Police in Greenville, South Carolina, reported that officers and EMS personnel responded to a 911 emergency call from an acquaintance regarding an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts on August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm. Panettiere was pronounced deceased at the scene. While the case remains under investigation by the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Coroner's Office, a preliminary investigation has found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, described his daughter as 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. He has requested privacy for the family.

A life in the spotlight

Panettiere began her career as a child star, appearing in a toy commercial at 11 months old. Her film debut came at age nine as the voice of Dot in A Bug’s Life, followed by a role in 2000's Remember the Titans. In 2004, she starred in the Disney Channel series Tiger Cruise.

She achieved global prominence at 17 as Claire Bennet in Heroes, which aired from 2006 to 2010. Bryan Fuller, a co-executive producer and writer for the series, described Panettiere as a muse who was wise beyond her years.

Panettiere later earned two Golden Globe nominations for her role as Juliette Barnes in Nashville. During the production, she recorded 11 songs that appeared on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts. She also appeared in the horror films Scream 4 in 2011 and Scream VI in 2023.

Struggles with addiction and recovery

In recent years, Panettiere spoke candidly about her battles with mental health and substance abuse. In a 2022 interview, she detailed a horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse, noting she was unsure where the alcoholism ended and postpartum struggles began.

These struggles were linked to a medical emergency during the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Panettiere reported that she haemorrhaged, requiring surgery to repair vessels and seven blood transfusions. In a May 2026 interview with US Weekly, she said the experience left her no longer afraid of death.

Due to these challenges, Panettiere entered rehab in 2015 and gave full custody of her daughter to her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018. In her memoir, This is Me: A Reckoning, published earlier this year, she described not living under the same roof as her daughter as the most gut-wrenching experience of her life.

In the same book, Panettiere explored the link between her career and her emotions, writing that she began to associate catastrophe with adoration because of the praise she received for dramatic acting.

Recent revelations and family loss

While promoting her memoir in May 2026, Panettiere publicly revealed she is bisexual. She explained that she had dated women but felt unable to share this part of her identity previously because she was being forced to be perfect at all times as a young star.

Panettiere's death follows the sudden loss of her brother, Jansen, who died in 2023 at the age of 28. His death certificate cited cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, combined with aortic valve complications. In 2024, Panettiere told People magazine that losing her only sibling felt like losing half of my soul.

Industry tributes

Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry. Viola Davis, who worked with Panettiere in the 2016 film Custody, described her as an old, wise soul and a beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Other tributes came from:

• Selma Blair, who posted emotional messages on Panettiere's Instagram.
• Heather Matarazzo, who remembered her as a Sprite of a being.
• Bethany Joy Lenz, who recalled Panettiere's astonishing intelligence as a child actor.
• SAG-AFTRA, which noted her membership since 1994.

Fans have also noted the coincidence of Panettiere's death following that of her The Ice Princess co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who died in February 2025 at age 39.

Panettiere is survived by her parents, Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel, and her daughter, Kaya.