Heroes and Nashville star Hayden Panettiere dies at 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville", has died at 36. Her father Skip Panettiere confirmed the death in a statement to ABC News, calling her "an incredible light and a force of nature." The Times of India reports she died just days before her 37th birthday. Law enforcement told TMZ they responded to an incident involving Panettiere on Sunday. Her cause of death has not been disclosed, and an investigation is ongoing.

Panettiere began acting at age five and rose to fame as Claire Bennet in "Heroes". She later earned two Golden Globe nominations for playing Juliette Barnes on "Nashville". Her films included "Remember the Titans", "Scream 4" and "Scream VI". Earlier this year, she released her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning", covering her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. She had given full custody of her daughter Kaya to ex-fiance, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, while focusing on recovery.

The Economic Times notes her younger brother Jansen died unexpectedly in 2023 at age 28. Panettiere's ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was arrested in 2020 for abusing her, told TMZ in May: "You never lay hands on a woman. Bottom line." Her family has asked for privacy as they process the loss.