'Heroes' actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

Hayden Panettiere, the American actress who captivated audiences as Claire Bennet in the hit series "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes in "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. US media outlets reported her passing, citing a statement from her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," the statement read. "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. She gained early recognition for voicing Dot, the young princess ant in Pixar's 1998 animated film "A Bug's Life." Her work on the film's read-along album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. She later achieved widespread fame for her role as the super-powered cheerleader Claire Bennet in NBC's "Heroes," which premiered in 2006. Her other notable roles included appearances in the 2000 football drama "Remember the Titans" and the satirical horror "Scream" franchise.

Her performance as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama "Nashville" earned Panettiere two Golden Globe nominations in 2013 and 2014 for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series. More recently, she starred in the psychological thriller "Sleepwalker," released in January 2026, portraying a grieving mother struggling with sleepwalking episodes. Panettiere's brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, passed away in 2023 at the age of 28 due to complications from an enlarged heart and an aortic valve condition.

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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.