Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the NBC series "Heroes" and the musical drama "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. Her representatives confirmed her passing on Sunday.
Circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately available. A statement provided by her representative described her as "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."
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, with her first appearance on screen at 11 months old. She gained recognition for her role as Sarah Roberts in the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live" from 1994 to 1997, and later as Lizzie Spaulding in "Guiding Light" from 1996 to 2000.
Her career extended to film, where she was nominated for a Young Artist Award and a Grammy Award for her role in Pixar's "A Bug's Life," making her one of the youngest Grammy nominees at the time. Other film credits include "Remember the Titans," "Racing Stripes," and "Ice Princess."
On television, Panettiere achieved widespread fame for her portrayal of cheerleader Claire Bennet in the sci-fi series "Heroes," which aired from 2006 to 2010. She later starred as Juliette Barnes in the ABC drama "Nashville" from 2012 to 2018, a role for which she also released music.
Panettiere also appeared in the "Scream" film franchise as Kirby Reed and lent her voice to the video game "Until Dawn." Her memoir, "This is Me," became a New York Times bestseller.
Sources indicated she had passed away earlier on Sunday. The news follows months after the release of her memoir, in which she discussed her struggles with fame and personal difficulties, including relinquishing custody of her daughter to ex-partner Wladimir Klitschko in 2018 while managing postpartum depression.
