Actress and singer Hayden Panettiere died on Sunday, Aug. 16, at the age of 36. Her father, Skip Panettiere, announced her death in a statement late Sunday evening.
"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 on-screen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
911 dispatch audio acquired by Page Six reports that paramedics responded to a call about an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest” on Sunday, and within minutes, “CPR [was] in progress” for the “overdose.”
Panettiere's career began in 1994, appearing on several soap operas throughout the 1990s. She is best known for her roles in the long-running series "Heroes" and "Nashville," and for her work in the films "Bring It On: All or Nothing" and "Ice Princess."
Early Career and Notable Films
Panettiere made her film debut at nine years old in Pixar's "A Bug's Life," voicing the ant Princess Dot. For her work on "A Bug's Life Read-Along," she was nominated for Best Spoken Word Album for Children at the Grammys.
She had an early breakout role in the Disney sports drama "Remember the Titans," playing Sheryl, the daughter of Will Patton's Coach Yoast.
In another project with Disney, Panettiere played Gen, a rival figure skater, in the teen sports dramedy "Ice Princess."
Panettiere starred as Britney Allen in "Bring It On: All or Nothing," the third installment in the franchise, opposite Solange Knowles.
Television Success
Panettiere gained significant recognition for her role as Claire Bennet, an indestructible cheerleader with regeneration powers, in the NBC series "Heroes." She appeared in 72 episodes over four seasons.
Her next major television role was as Juliette Barnes, a rising country pop star, in the ABC musical drama "Nashville." She played the character in 112 episodes.
Later Roles
In 2011, Panettiere joined the "Scream" franchise as Kirby Reed. She reprised the role in the 2023 film "Scream VI," portraying Kirby as an FBI agent.
The article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for the New York Post, Page Six, and Decider.