BREAKING: ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ Star Hayden Panettiere Dead at 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36, her agent told ABC News.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. “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.”

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

Details of her death were unavailable at the time of publication.

Panettiere began acting as a child and is best known for her roles in “Nashville” and “Heroes.” She also starred in “Remember the Titans,” “Raising Helen,” “Ice Princess” and “Scream 4.”

The actress has one child, 11-year-old Kaya Klitschko, whom she had during a previous relationship with heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, also died suddenly at a young age. He was 28 when he died from cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) coupled with aortic valve complications in February 2023.

Panettiere shared openly with the public her struggles with postpartum depression and alcoholism in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published in May 2026 by Grand Central Publishing. Her memoir dealt with her postpartum depression and dependence on alcohol following the traumatic birth of her daughter. It also discussed surviving toxic relationships, grappling with grief after the death of her brother, and her painful decision to give up custody of her daughter as her mental health and addiction worsened.

This is a breaking story. Updates will be published as they become available.