Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, her representative confirmed to ABC News.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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," her rep said in a statement.
Any other details surrounding Panettiere's death were not immediately available.
Panettiere began as a child star and had a long career in both TV and film. She is remembered for her roles as Claire Bennet on the popular series Heroes and as Juliette Barnes on the musical drama Nashville.
Panettiere also appeared in Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess, and Scream 4.
Panettiere, a mom of one, spoke out about growing up in the spotlight, postpartum depression and her struggles with substance abuse in her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning. The book was published in May.
In 2023, Panettiere’s younger brother Jason died unexpectedly of a heart condition at 28.
“When something that massive has happened to you, you really learn to pick your fights and just not let the little things upset you,” she told People in 2024 about the death. “Because once something so horrific, so deep, so catastrophic happens in your life, there’s not much that can really rock you.”
She added, “Mental health is so important, and I hope those reading this now understand that what you say hiding behind a computer screen can have a detrimental impact on someone.”
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More
