Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles on the NBC series "Heroes" and the musical drama "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. Her representatives confirmed her passing on Sunday, describing her as an "incredible light and a force of nature."
Her cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that police responded to an incident involving Panettiere, and an investigation is ongoing. Sources also indicated she had recently complained of back pain, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, had traveled to see her the day before her death.
Fellow actor Selma Blair was among the first to pay tribute, sharing her shock and grief on Panettiere's final Instagram post from July 27. "I love you. Don't be gone. Don't be gone. Please. Please," Blair wrote, adding, "I love you whale tail my friend" in a subsequent comment.
Panettiere's representatives stated, "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."
Panettiere, who leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, had a career that began in childhood. She first appeared on screen at 11 months old and began her full-time acting career in 1994. She gained early recognition for her roles in soap operas "One Life to Live" and "Guiding Light."
Her breakout role came as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit NBC series "Heroes" (2006-2010), followed by her portrayal of Juliette Barnes in the ABC musical drama "Nashville" (2012-2018). She also appeared in the "Scream" film franchise as Kirby Reed and voiced a character in the video game "Until Dawn."
Panettiere's memoir, "This is Me," released earlier this year, became a New York Times bestseller. In it, she detailed her struggles with fame and personal difficulties, including postpartum depression, which led her to relinquish custody of her daughter to her ex, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018.
Panettiere also ventured into music, recording songs for her film and television projects. In a May interview with Us Weekly, she publicly came out as bisexual, stating she had been more attracted to women from a young age but had lacked the courage to fully explore those relationships due to fear of hiding them.