American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.
Panettiere’s representative confirmed her death on Sunday, August 16, with authorities responding to a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation. Authorities have said that the preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, while the official cause of death has yet to be determined.
In a statement shared with ABC News, Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, described his daughter as “an incredible light” who brought love and joy to those around her.
The actress began her career as a child performer and went on to build a decades-long career in television and film. She gained international recognition as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative abilities, in the hit NBC series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010.
She later starred as Juliette Barnes, a rising country music star, in the musical drama Nashville. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations, while several songs she performed for the series also appeared on the Billboard country music charts.
Panettiere also appeared in films including Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Beyond her acting career, Panettiere had been open about her personal struggles, including addiction, postpartum depression and the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry. Earlier this year, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she reflected on her life, career and journey toward recovery.
Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow actors and colleagues, who remembered her for her talent, energy and impact on audiences.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, as well as her parents. She would have turned 37 on August 21.
