RismadarVoice Reporters, August 17, 2026
American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her death in a statement on Sunday, describing her passing as a profound loss for the family.
The cause and manner of death had not been disclosed at the time of the report. Her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, said an investigation was underway.
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at about 1:50 p.m. Sunday.
Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene after medical assistance was administered.
According to police, the preliminary investigation had not uncovered evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Authorities said the case was being investigated in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
Panettiere had recently published a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she discussed aspects of her personal life and previous relationships.
In recent years, she had also spoken publicly about her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction. She previously said those challenges contributed to her decision to give custody of her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.
Panettiere said she experienced severe anxiety and panic attacks following the birth of her daughter and turned to alcohol and other substances as a way of coping.
Despite the difficulties surrounding custody, she said she maintained a close emotional bond with her daughter and hoped their relationship would continue to grow.
Born and raised in Palisades, New York, Panettiere entered the entertainment industry as an infant, appearing in television commercials at just 11 months old.
She began acting in television soap operas at the age of four, appearing in One Life to Live and Guiding Light.
Her early film credits included Remember the Titans and Bring It On: All or Nothing. She also provided a voice for the animated film A Bug’s Life.
Her breakthrough came with the NBC science-fiction series Heroes, where she played cheerleader Claire Bennet, a character with regenerative abilities.
She later gained widespread recognition for her role as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville, which ran for six seasons.
Panettiere said her personal struggles during the production of Nashville were compounded by the demands of motherhood and her battle with postpartum depression.
She also experienced another major personal loss when her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly in 2023 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Reflecting on his death in a 2024 interview, she spoke about the profound impact of losing someone who had shared many of the most important moments of her life.
Tributes Pour In
Tributes followed news of Panettiere’s death, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) mourning her sudden passing and extending condolences to her daughter, family, friends and fans.
Actress Viola Davis, who appeared alongside Panettiere in the 2016 film Custody, praised her talent and paid tribute to the person she believed Panettiere was becoming.
Other actors and colleagues also expressed shock and sadness over her death.
Beyond acting, Panettiere was involved in environmental and animal conservation efforts. She served as a spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation and appeared in the Oscar-winning 2010 documentary The Cove, which examined dolphin hunting.
Her father remembered her as a vibrant presence who brought joy and affection to her family, colleagues and the millions of people who watched her work.
