Hayden Panettiere Passes Away at 36

Actor Hayden Panettiere has passed away at the age of 36, her father announced in a statement on Sunday night. ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,’ said Skip Panettiere in a statement released through her representative.

The cause and manner of death have not been disclosed. Her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, mentioned that her death is currently under investigation. ‘There’s an investigation ongoing,’ Kitchen stated. ‘We should know more tomorrow.’

This year, Panettiere revealed her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction, which influenced her heartbreaking decision to relinquish custody of her daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, in 2018. Kaya is her only child with former partner Wladimir Klitschko, the Ukrainian professional boxer.

Recently, Panettiere published a memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ which brought attention to her past experiences and relationships. In 2024, she spoke about the devastation she felt after the sudden death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, from an undiagnosed heart condition the previous year. ‘Losing someone who was present during all significant moments in your life can turn your world upside down,’ she shared with NBC’s ‘TODAY’ show.

Born and raised in Palisades, New York, approximately 40 miles north of New York City, Panettiere began her career early. According to her Television Academy bio, she started appearing in television commercials at 11 months old. By age 4, she was acting in soap operas such as ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘Guiding Light.’ Her voice could be heard in the animated feature ‘A Bug’s Life,’ and she later starred in films like ‘Remember the Titans’ and ‘Bring It On: All or Nothing.’

One of her most significant roles was as Juliette Barnes in the television series ‘Nashville.’ Previously, she was known for her role as Claire Bennet in the 2000s series ‘Heroes.’ During her time on ‘Nashville,’ Panettiere experienced the challenge of balancing her career with becoming a new mother and battling postpartum depression.