Hayden Panettiere, the actor who rose to international prominence as a child star before delivering memorable television performances in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip Panettiere, announced the actor’s death in a statement provided to ABC News, according to reports from Apnews.
Hayden Panettiere Passes Away at 36
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,
Skip Panettiere said in the statement.
Police in Greenville, South Carolina, reported that officers, accompanied by emergency medical services personnel, responded to a call concerning an unresponsive female at approximately 1:50 p.m. on a Sunday, according to Nbcnews. Medical assistance was administered at the scene, but Panettiere was pronounced dead. Her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, stated that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, as noted by Cbsnews.
Early Stardom and Breakout Television Roles
Panettiere’s entertainment career began in infancy. According to her Television Academy biography cited by Nbcnews, she started working at 11 months old by appearing in television commercials. As a child actor, she appeared in soap operas including One Life to Live
and “Guiding Light,” and voiced a character in the animated feature film “A Bug’s Life.” She also played the young daughter of a football coach in the feature film Remember the Titans.
Her career reached a turning point in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with superpowers, in the NBC sci-fi series “Heroes.” The show’s premise revolved around the phrase Save the cheerleader, save the world.
In a 2008 interview with Apnews, Panettiere reflected on the appeal of the series, describing it as a combination of reality and sci-fi elements grounded in relatable human stories. Her performance earned her three Teen Choice Awards.
Following “Heroes,” Panettiere starred as country-pop singer Juliette Barnes on the ABC and CMT musical drama series “Nashville.” She performed her own singing for the role, which generated hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, spawned U.S. tours, and earned her two supporting actress Golden Globe nominations. Her acting credits also included feature films such as Remember the Titans,
I Love You Beth Cooper,
and entries in the “Scream” horror film franchise.
Candid Memoir Releases and Personal Challenges
In recent years, Panettiere spoke openly about the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry and her personal battles with substance abuse and mental health challenges. In May, she published a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning,
in which she detailed her childhood and experiences with addiction. In interviews promoting the book, including a conversation with CBS News’ Gayle King, she discussed entering audition rooms as an infant and filming dozens of commercials before starting school.
After giving birth to her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, in December 2014 with her then-fiancé, former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, Panettiere experienced severe postpartum depression. She entered a treatment facility in October 2015 and later discussed her struggles with alcohol and prescription medication use. In 2018, Klitschko took full primary custody of their daughter, who moved to live with him full-time in Ukraine. Panettiere addressed public misconceptions surrounding the custody arrangement in interviews, explaining that the decision stemmed from her struggles with addiction and mental health challenges while trying to find her way through a difficult period.
