Actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville, and the Scream franchise, has died at age 36.

A cause of death was not immediately known.

“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 representative told several media outlets.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

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From child star to television success

Panettiere began acting as a child before building a career across television and film.

She became widely known for playing Claire Bennet in NBC superhero drama Heroes and later starred as Juliette Barnes in musical drama Nashville, a performance that earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4. She later returned to the horror franchise for Scream VI.

Panettiere had also spoken publicly about the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry and her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.

In May, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé and Ukrainian former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.