Actress Hayden Panettiere passed away late Sunday night, according to a statement from her family. She was 36 years old. The cause of death has not been made public yet.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the family’s statement, published by People magazine, reads. “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 started her career in entertainment at a young age, appearing in TV commercials before landing a voice role in the 1998 animated film A Bug’s Life. She then worked steadily in film and TV before getting her big break in the NBC series Heroes, which aired from 2006 to 2010. She later starred in Nashville as Juliette Barnes for six seasons, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.
Panettiere also appeared in the fourth and sixth Scream movies, starred in Bring It On: All or Nothing in 2006, and pursued a music career alongside her acting.
Just a few months ago, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, where she opened up about motherhood—she had her only child in 2014—and her struggles with postpartum depression. She also wrote about coping with the loss of her brother, Jansen, in 2023, her battles with alcohol during her youth, and the challenges of dealing with the intense fame she experienced in the early 2010s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Hayden Panettiere covering her career personal life and public image
Getting to Know Hayden
1 Who is Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere is an American actress model and singer She started as a child actor and became a household name in the 2000s for her roles in major TV shows like Heroes and Nashville
2 How old is she and where is she from
She was born on August 21 1989 in Palisades New York That makes her 35 years old as of 2024
3 What is she most famous for
She is most famous for playing Claire Bennet in the NBC superhero drama Heroes Her character was famous for the catchphrase Save the cheerleader save the world She is also very well known for playing Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville
Her Career and Roles
4 What was her first acting role
She started acting at just 11 months old appearing in commercials Her first major film role was in the 1998 movie A Bugs Life where she voiced the character Dot
5 What are some other movies and shows she has been in
Besides her big two she has starred in films like Remember the Titans Racing Stripes and the Scream franchise She also had a voice role in Kingdom Hearts video games
6 Does she actually sing on Nashville
Yes she does all of her own singing on Nashville Her performance of the song Telescope was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance
7 Has she won any awards for her acting
Yes She won several Teen Choice Awards and a Satellite Award She also received Golden Globe nominations for her role in Nashville
Personal Life and Advocacy
8 Who is she married to or dating
She was previously in a longterm relationship with boxer Wladimir Klitschko They got engaged and had a daughter