Actress Hayden Panettiere died on Sunday night at the age of 36, her representative announced. The cause of death was not immediately clear.
"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 representative said in a statement.
Panettiere was widely recognized for her roles as Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes and as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville. Her passing comes several months after the release of her memoir, This is Me, which became a New York Times bestseller. In the book, she discussed her experiences with fame and personal challenges.