Rabat – American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died at the age of 36, her family confirmed.
No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Details surrounding her death remain limited. Authorities and emergency personnel reportedly responded to an emergency call involving an unresponsive person, and her death was later confirmed by her family and representative.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to BBC.
“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 onscreen.”
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing in commercials and soap operas before building a career across television and film.
She became widely known in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative superpowers, on NBC’s sci-fi drama “Heroes.”
She later took on one of her most celebrated roles as Juliette Barnes on “Nashville,” portraying a young country music star whose personal and professional struggles unfolded throughout the series.
Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
Her film credits included “Remember the Titans,” “Raising Helen,” “Ice Princess,” and appearances in the “Scream” franchise. She also voiced characters early in her career, including Dot in Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life.”
Panettiere remained candid about the challenges she faced away from the spotlight.
In May 2026, she released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she reflected on childhood fame, postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma and other deeply personal experiences.
The memoir was published on May 19 by Grand Central Publishing.
Her death comes only months after the release of the memoir, which offered a more intimate account of the life behind her public career.
