Actress Hayden Panettiere, star of "Scream," dies at 36

Actress Hayden Panettiere, celebrated for her roles in "Scream" and the musical drama "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. Her representative confirmed the tragic news to ABC News.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, released a statement expressing profound sorrow, calling her "a force of nature" who brought "immeasurable love and joy" to those who knew her and to her millions of fans. He requested privacy for the family as they grieve this "unimaginable loss," and the cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Panettiere, who began her career as a child star, was widely recognized for her portrayal of Claire Bennet in the hit series "Heroes." She also earned two Golden Globe nominations for her role as Juliette Barnes in "Nashville," a series she starred in for 128 episodes between 2012 and 2018. Her film credits include "Remember the Titans" and "Scream 4."

In her 2022 memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," Panettiere candidly shared her personal struggles, including postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma, and domestic abuse. She had also spoken publicly about her battle with alcoholism and postpartum depression in a 2022 interview with "Good Morning America." Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, passed away in February 2023 at the age of 28 due to heart complications.

Panettiere was a mother to a daughter, Kaya Klitschko, born in 2014, with her former partner, boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

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With deep sadness, we share the tragic news of our beloved Hayden's passing. She was an incredible person, a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone she knew, and to the millions she saw on screen.