Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Actor Hayden Panettiere, who starred in TV dramas and movies, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 36.
Panettiere’s father, Skip, announced the actor’s death in a statement shared with The Times on Sunday.
“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 onscreen,” his statement said.
No other details were released.
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
She starred on “Nashville” (2012-18) and, before that, “Heroes” (2006-10). Her early work included roles in the 1990s on the soaps “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” She was a model and a singer, having released several singles.
Panettiere also starred in the “Scream” horror movie franchise.
Panettiere gave birth to her daughter, with boxing champ Wladimir Klitschko, in 2014 and has been vocal about her struggle with postpartum depression. She gave up custody of the child in 2018, a decision she called “heartbreaking.”
In May, the actor published a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she recounted the struggles of celebrity. She opened up about her struggles with alcoholism and depression after the birth of her daughter.
In interviews about the book, she reflected on the scrutiny and cruelty she faced as a young actor.
“It blows my mind that people could be so cruel,” she told the New York Times. “Looking back as an adult and a mother of a daughter, it’s hard to believe that grown adults were OK with ripping you apart at such a tender age. At any age, really.
“I just can’t believe I made it through alive,” she added.
Panettiere started in movies at the age of 9 when she voiced Princess Dot in the 1998 Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life.” Two years later, she made a splash in the role of a young football-obsessed fan and daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) in the biographical drama “Remember the Titans.” The actor told “ET” in 2023, “If I had a wish to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to ‘Remember the Titans.’ … There were so many stars made from this movie.”
She was just 17 when she gained widespread fame as cheerleader Claire Bennett on the suphero drama “Heroes.”
Panettiere was passionate about animals and began advocating for whale conservation in her teens. She came out as bisexual earlier this year, telling Us Magazine that she was sad to have waited until age 36 to do so.
She spoke up about her experience with domestic abuse after a public altercation in Los Angeles in 2022 involving a then-boyfriend. Brian Hickerson was on probation at the time following multiple domestic violence charges that dated back to 2018.
In 2025, her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly of complications from a heart problem. He had struggled with substance abuse and she got him into treatment, she told Us Magazine.
In the statement on Sunday, Panettiere’s father said the family asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
