Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for Heroes and Nashville, has died at 36, her family confirmed Sunday. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Panettiere’s father described her as an “incredible light” who brought love and joy to those around her and millions of viewers.
He asked for privacy as the family processes what he called an unimaginable loss.
Publicist Kasey Kitchen said an investigation was ongoing and that more information was expected the following day.
Panettiere became widely known through her acting career, including roles in Heroes and Nashville.
She released her debut memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May 2026, documenting her transition from child stardom to adult fame and discussing personal struggles.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she had with former partner and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Her brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at age 28.
Final Instagram Post
Panettiere’s final Instagram post was shared July 27. The black and white photograph showed her winking and sticking out her tongue while photographer Randall Slavin stood beside her.
She captioned it, “Good times and good friends @randallslavin.” Slavin later shared the post to his Instagram Story with a message of remembrance.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death, with further information expected from the ongoing investigation.
