Hayden Panettiere, actress in ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36
Written by laserteam on August 17, 2026
(CNN) – Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for portraying an indestructible cheerleader in “Heroes” and a country music sensation in “Nashville,” has died, her representative told CNN. She was 36.
Panettiere soared to stardom in the early 2000s before stepping back from the public spotlight as she battled challenges with addiction and mental health. She recently released a memoir describing her struggles and spoke publicly about the pain of losing her brother.
Details about the cause of death weren’t immediately released. ABC was the first to report the 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,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement shared by her representative.
Panettiere was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment complex Sunday afternoon, CNN affiliate WHNS reported, citing local police.
CNN has sought information from Greenville police.
Officers responded around 1:51 p.m. after a report of an unresponsive female, WHNS said. Medical assistance was administered, but Panettiere was pronounced dead.
