Actor Hayden Panettiere Dies Aged 36

Hayden Panettiere in ‘Heroes.’ Photo: NBC Universal.

Preview:

Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36.
She was best known for her roles as Claire Bennet on ‘Heroes,’ Juliette Barnes on ‘Nashville’ and Kirby Reed in the ‘Scream’ franchise.
Panettiere began working in entertainment as an infant and went on to build a career spanning more than three decades.

Hayden Panettiere, the acclaimed actress and singer whose performances made her one of television’s most recognizable young stars for shows including ‘Heroes,’ has died at the age of 36. Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

“You can’t choose your family, you can choose a side.”

Air Date: September 25th, 2006

Her rep said in a statement:

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” describing her as “an incredible light and a force of nature who brought love and joy to those around her and to the millions who followed her career.”

Related Article: Hayden Panettiere Talks New Psychological Thriller ‘Sleepwalker’

Hayden Panettiere: Early Life and Career

Hayden Panettiere stars in ‘Nashville’. Photo: ABC Studios.

Born on August 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, Panettiere entered show business as a baby, appearing in commercials at just 11 months old. She later appeared on the soap opera ‘One Life to Live’ and built an extensive résumé as a child actress before making the transition to major film and television roles.

Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s superhero drama ‘Heroes.’

Hayden Panettiere: Television and Film

Hayden Panettiere in ‘Sleepwalker’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

Panettiere was also known for her movie career, including ‘Remember the Titans,’‘Ice Princess,’ ‘Scream 4’, ‘Sleepwalker’ and ‘I Love You, Beth Cooper.’ She later reprised her role as Kirby Reed in ‘Scream VI,’ returning to one of her best-known characters more than a decade after her first appearance.

From 2012 to 2018, Panettiere starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on the musical drama ‘Nashville,’ earning her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress.

In May 2026, Panettiere published her memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ reflecting on her experiences growing up in Hollywood and the personal struggles she faced throughout her life.

Hayden Panettiere: Offscreen

Hayden Panettiere stars in ‘Sleepwalker’.

Away from the screen, Panettiere’s life increasingly became the subject of public attention, something she addressed candidly in her memoir and interviews. She spoke openly about the pressures of growing up famous and difficult periods in her personal life, while working to reclaim her own story after years in the spotlight. The actor was involved in a relationship with Ukrainian champion heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko from 2009-11 and 2013–18, and they had a daughter, daughter, Kaya, in 2014.

In recent years, she also reflected publicly on the death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023 at age 28.

Panettiere leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a performer who spent virtually her entire life in front of the camera. From child-star roles to her big franchise work, she created characters that remained part of popular culture for generations of viewers.