Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes" and country music star Juliette Barnes on CMT's "Nashville," died Sunday at age 36. Her representative confirmed the death to ABC News, though a cause has not been disclosed.
Panettiere built a four-decade career that spanned television, film, and voice acting. She broke through as a child actor before "Heroes" made her a household name during the show's 2006-2010 run. The NBC superhero drama turned her into a fan favorite, and she leveraged that momentum into high-profile roles including Juliette in six seasons of "Nashville" and appearances in the "Scream" franchise, playing Kirby Reed in both "Scream 4" (2011) and "Scream VI" (2023).
Beyond live-action work, Panettiere provided the voice for Kairi in the "Kingdom Hearts" video game franchise and appeared in films including "Remember the Titans" (2000) and "Bring It On" (2004). She worked steadily in television across series like "Charmed," "Guiding Light," and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
In recent years, Panettiere had navigated personal challenges while maintaining her career presence. She spoke publicly about her struggles with postpartum depression and substance abuse, demonstrating transparency about her mental health journey. In 2022, she sought treatment for substance use disorder at a facility in Ohio.
Her death marks a shocking loss for an entertainment industry that had watched her grow from child actor to leading television presence. The "Heroes" fan community, in particular, expressed profound grief on social media, celebrating her role in defining that seminal superhero drama during the genre