Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the actress who became a star through Heroes and Nashville, has died at just 36 years old. Her representative confirmed her death, while her father, Skip Panettiere, asked for privacy as the family mourns.

Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in One Life to Live, Guiding Light and A Bug’s Life. She later rose to international fame as Claire Bennet in Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville. She also appeared in Scream 4 and Scream 6.

Away from Hollywood, she openly spoke about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Earlier in 2026, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, sharing her experiences with recovery, motherhood and trauma.

Her daughter, Kaya, was at the center of her life. Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about the painful decision surrounding her daughter’s custody while she was receiving treatment.

Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, also died in 2023 at age 28.

The circumstances surrounding Hayden’s death remain under investigation, and no cause of death has been publicly disclosed.

She was only 36.

A child star, a mother, a fighter—and a woman who never stopped trying to rebuild her life.

Rest in peace, Hayden. 🕊️