Hayden Panettiere has died aged 36.
The actress was best known for her roles as Claire Bennet in Heroes, Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise and Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
A statement from her representatives said: “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.”
Hayden Panettiere attends 2009 movie premiere. Photo credit Tinseltozn, Shutterstock
Panettiere's death comes just months after she spoke openly about her mental health struggles and the difficult experiences she had faced throughout her life.
In May, she released her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she detailed her experiences with postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma and domestic abuse.
She also opened up about the devastating loss of her younger brother, James Panettiere, who died aged 28 in 2023.
During one of her final interviews, Panettiere spoke optimistically about the future and said she felt she had finally moved beyond some of the darkest periods of her life.
Speaking to Jay Shetty while promoting her memoir, she said: “I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity.”
She continued: “I've closed one door and another door is opened … I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”
The comments have taken on a heartbreaking significance following her sudden death.
Stephen Colletti and Hayden Panettiere at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Issue Party, 2006. Photo credit Tinseltown Shutterstock
Panettiere also spoke candidly about her ongoing recovery and the importance of continuing to work on herself.
In a July cover interview with parenting outlet Momé, she said: “I'm a work in progress – we all are. I take each day as it comes. I'm doing the work, and I'm doing my best.”
The actress also reflected on her relationship with her daughter, Kaya, who she welcomed with former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
Panettiere had previously spoken about suffering from postpartum depression following Kaya's birth.
Kaya, who is now 11, has primarily lived with her father, with Panettiere explaining that the decision was made with her daughter's wellbeing in mind.
She said: “I've been able to put her first no matter how I've felt or what I've experienced.”
Panettiere also expressed hope that her daughter would one day understand the reasons behind their separation.
She said: “One day she'll understand my story, and why I wasn't able to be with her all the time.”
Hayden Panettiere pictured pregnant at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2014. Photo credit Jaguar PS SHutterstock
The actress ended the interview with an encouraging message for other mothers experiencing difficult periods.
“You're stronger than you know. And you're going to be just fine,” she said.
Just weeks earlier, Panettiere had spoken about the impact of sharing her own experiences with mental health.
During a book signing and panel at the Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles on May 26, she revealed that people had approached her to tell her that speaking publicly about her struggles had encouraged them to seek help.
She recalled: “So many people have come up to me within the industry and outside of the industry and shared their stories with me and said, ‘Because you've talked about your mental health, it gave me the courage to be honest about mine and get myself help and you saved my life.’”
Panettiere said hearing those stories had made the decision to share her experiences worthwhile.
Away from her personal struggles, Panettiere had a successful career from a very young age.
She appeared in her first commercial when she was just 11 months old, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a former soap star. Her father worked as a firefighter.
She went on to become one of television's most recognisable young stars, with her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes bringing her widespread fame.
She later starred as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
She also appeared as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise.
