Hayden Panettiere, acclaimed Heroes and Nashville actress, dies at 36

US actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for starring in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36.

Her family confirmed her death in a statement released through her publicist. No cause of death has been announced and authorities are investigating the circumstances.

Her father confirmed the actress's death in a statement to ABC News.

"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," he said.

He asked that her family be given privacy while they "process this unimaginable loss."

Born in Palisades, New York, in 1989, Panettiere began appearing in commercials before her first birthday and went on to become a successful child actor, with roles in the soap operas One Life to Live and Guiding Light.

She appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, having previously voiced Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life.

Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet, who possessed regenerative powers, in NBC's science-fiction drama Heroes. The role made Panettiere an international star.

She later played the ambitious country singer Juliette Barnes opposite Connie Britton in Nashville from 2012 to 2018. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Panettiere began a relationship with Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2009. The couple got engaged in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, the following year. They separated in 2018.

Panettiere also appeared in films including Ice Princess, I Love You, Beth Cooper and Scream 4, later reprising her popular role as Kirby Reed in 2023's Scream VI.

Away from acting, Panettiere spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Earlier this year, she published the memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she reflected on her career and personal life.

She is survived by her daughter Kaya and her parents. Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at the age of 28.

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