‘Scream 6’ & ‘Heroes’ Star Hayden Panettiere Passes Away at 36

Hayden Panettiere was a familiar face in the entertainment industry for nearly three decades, rising to fame as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s ‘Heroes.’ This iconic role not only defined the early seasons of the show but also established Panettiere as a household name long before she turned twenty, following her successful career as a child performer.

Her career flourished further with her film debut in ‘I Love You, Beth Cooper,’ and later, she took on the role of country singer Juliette Barnes in ‘Nashville,’ which garnered her multiple award nominations throughout the series. Panettiere also returned to the horror genre that marked her early career with appearances in both ‘Scream 4’ and ‘Scream VI,’ in addition to starring in the 2011 Lifetime telefilm ‘Amanda Knox.’

Tragically, Panettiere passed away on Sunday at the age of 36, as confirmed by a statement from ABC News. Her father, Skip Panettiere, expressed profound sadness in sharing the news, describing her as an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immense love and joy to those around her, including the millions who admired her on screen. He requested privacy for the family during this difficult time.

According to TMZ, law enforcement confirmed that police responded to an incident involving Panettiere on Sunday, and an investigation into her death is currently ongoing. Her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, informed NBC News that more details are expected in the coming days, but no official cause of death has been disclosed.

In recent years, Panettiere had been candid about her struggles with mental health following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014, with former partner Wladimir Klitschko, the Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion. She openly discussed her battles with postpartum depression and addiction, which ultimately led her to give up custody of her daughter in 2018.

These experiences were central to her memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ released in May 2026. The 320-page book chronicled her journey as a child star, her battles with addiction and postpartum depression, and her path toward healing, making headlines for its honest revelations about her life and relationships, including her romance with Klitschko.

Panettiere is survived by her parents, Skip and Lesley, and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya. She also mourned the loss of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 28 due to aortic valve complications from enlarged heart syndrome, a loss she had spoken about publicly.

In a previous interview with People, she expressed that she would always be heartbroken over her brother’s death, stating that no matter how much time passed, she would never fully recover from losing him. In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter related to her memoir’s release, Panettiere shared how carefully she approached writing about the people in her life, relying on her team for support in deciding how much to reveal.

As tributes pour in from fans and colleagues across the industry, Panettiere leaves behind a remarkable body of work that spans nearly her entire life, from her early child acting roles to her most recent film and television appearances.

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