Actress Hayden Panettiere, the former child star who became a household name on “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died at just 36 years old.
Panettiere was found unresponsive in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 16, and was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts to provide medical assistance, according to police. Her shocking death came just days before what would have been her 37th birthday on Aug. 21.
Her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement released through her representative.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said, describing his daughter as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought enormous joy to both those who knew her personally and the millions who watched her on screen.
No cause or manner of death has been announced.
Panettiere’s publicist, Kasey Kitchen, said authorities were investigating her death and that more information was expected to emerge.
“There’s an investigation ongoing,” Kitchen said. “We should know more tomorrow.”
Greenville police said officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at around 1:50 p.m. Sunday.
Authorities identified the woman as Panettiere after emergency crews attempted to help her but were unable to revive her.
Local reports said she was found at the Judson Mill Lofts apartment complex in Greenville.
Police said the preliminary investigation had found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
An acquaintance of Panettiere reportedly made the 911 call.
The Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner’s Office are jointly investigating the death, and officials said no additional details were immediately available.
The devastating news comes after an eventful and deeply personal period in Panettiere’s life.
Earlier this year, the actress released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she spoke candidly about growing up in Hollywood, her relationships, motherhood, addiction and her battle with postpartum depression.
Panettiere had a daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, with her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Kaya was born in 2014.
Panettiere later revealed that her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction contributed to her decision in 2018 to allow Kaya to live full time with her father.
The decision was devastating for the actress, but she maintained that she believed it was best for her daughter while she worked on herself.
Panettiere spoke openly about that painful period during a May appearance on Jay Shetty’s podcast.
She said she had always dreamed of becoming a mother but quickly realized after Kaya’s birth that something was seriously wrong.
“I had this beautiful plan in my head, and then I had my daughter, and I knew something was just terribly, terribly wrong,” she said.
Panettiere described being miserable and frequently in tears as she battled postpartum depression.
She also said she began relying on substances while struggling with anxiety and panic attacks, explaining that alcohol would temporarily calm her nervous system before ultimately making her condition worse.
Despite living apart from Kaya, Panettiere said she remained deeply attached to her daughter and hoped they would eventually develop an even stronger relationship.
“I will always want her here. I always miss her,” she said during the podcast interview.
Panettiere also survived a terrifying medical emergency during Kaya’s birth, revealing in interviews connected to her memoir that she nearly bled to death during her C-section and required multiple blood transfusions.
In one of her final major interviews, Panettiere appeared optimistic about the future and said she believed she had moved beyond some of the darkest periods of her life.
She said she was excited about what was ahead and declared that she had “a lot more life left to live.”
The actress had also endured another crushing family tragedy just three years before her own death.
Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died unexpectedly in February 2023 at age 28 from complications related to an enlarged heart.
Hayden later spoke publicly about how deeply his death affected her.
“When you lose somebody that you saw in all the important moments in your life, standing right next to you, it just rocks your world,” she told NBC’s “TODAY” in 2024.
Panettiere had been in the entertainment industry virtually her entire life.
Born Aug. 21, 1989, in Palisades, New York, about 40 miles north of New York City, she began appearing in television commercials when she was just 11 months old.
By the age of 4, she was appearing on soap operas, including “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.”
As a child, she also voiced Dot, the young princess ant, in Pixar’s 1998 animated hit “A Bug’s Life.” Her work connected to the movie later earned her a Grammy nomination for its read-along album.
She went on to appear in a string of popular movies, including “Remember the Titans,” “Raising Helen,” “Ice Princess,” “Bring It On: All or Nothing” and “I Love You, Beth Cooper.”
But it was television that turned Panettiere into a major star.
In 2006, she began playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes,” a character with the supernatural ability to rapidly heal from injuries.
The role helped make Panettiere one of the most recognizable young actresses on television and earned her three Teen Choice Awards.
She later found another signature role as troubled country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville.”
Panettiere starred on the series throughout its six-season run, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.
The actress later revealed that filming “Nashville” could be emotionally difficult because some of Juliette’s storylines mirrored struggles she was experiencing in real life.
Panettiere also became a fan favorite in the “Scream” franchise as Kirby Reed, appearing in “Scream 4” and returning to the role years later in “Scream VI.”
Her most recent film role was in the 2026 psychological thriller “Sleepwalker.”
News of Panettiere’s sudden death triggered an outpouring of grief across Hollywood.
SAG-AFTRA, which said Panettiere had been a member since 1994, mourned the actress and extended condolences to her daughter, family, friends and fans.
“We join in mourning the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere,” the union said.
Viola Davis, who appeared alongside Panettiere in the 2016 movie “Custody,” remembered her as an extraordinary talent.
Davis wrote that she wished the world had been given more time to see who Panettiere was becoming, describing her as a “beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes” and saying her struggles had become part of her legacy.
Kelly Osbourne also said she was “deeply saddened” by the death of someone who had meant a great deal to her.
Osbourne said the two women understood one another because they both knew how difficult and isolating it could be to grow up in the public eye.
“She was such a good friend to me,” Osbourne wrote.
Other stars also paid tribute.
Panettiere’s “Scream VI” co-star Melissa Barrera wrote, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” while “Scream 4” co-star David Arquette posted that he loved her.
Bethany Joy Lenz, Jeremy Renner, Rosie O’Donnell, JoJo and others also publicly mourned the actress.
Brit Shaw, who appeared on “Nashville,” described Panettiere’s death as a “shock” and remembered how welcoming she had been on set.
“She had this way of making you feel at home,” Shaw wrote.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya and her parents.
For now, questions remain about what caused the 36-year-old actress’s sudden death.
Police have emphasized that their initial investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, but the investigation remains active as authorities and the coroner work to determine exactly what happened.