American actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36.
Skip Panettiere, the actress’s father, disclosed this in a statement on Monday on behalf of the family, appealing for privacy as they mourn the loss.
“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 on screen.
“We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
The cause of her death was not disclosed.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child and gained widespread recognition for her roles as Claire Bennet in the hit television series “Heroes” and Juliette Barnes in the musical drama series “Nashville”.
Her film credits include “Remember the Titans”, “Raising Helen”, “Ice Princess” and “Scream 4”. She also reprised her role as Kirby Reed in the “Scream” franchise, appearing in the 2023 film.
Throughout her career, Panettiere spoke openly about her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma, domestic abuse and grief.
In May, she released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning”, in which she recounted her life away from the public spotlight.
In a 2022 interview with “Good Morning America”, Panettiere discussed her struggles with alcoholism and postpartum depression, saying she found it difficult to distinguish between the two experiences.
She also spoke publicly about the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who died suddenly in February 2023 at the age of 28, describing the loss as heartbreaking.
Panettiere’s career spanned television, film and voice acting, establishing her as a prominent child star who successfully transitioned into adult roles.
