Actress Hayden Panettiere, widely recognized for her roles in the television series "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. Panettiere also made significant contributions to the video game industry, lending her voice to characters in the "Kingdom Hearts" series and Supermassive Games' survival horror title "Until Dawn."
Her family announced her passing in a statement, describing 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's career began in the 1990s with early television roles and appearances in films such as "A Bug's Life" and "Remember the Titans." Her breakout role came as Claire Bennet in "Heroes," a character known for her regenerative abilities.
In the realm of video games, Panettiere's work included voicing Tati in 2002's "The Mark of Kri." She later portrayed Kairi and Xion in Square Enix's "Kingdom Hearts" franchise. More recently, she lent her voice and likeness to Samantha "Sam" Giddings in Supermassive Games' "Until Dawn" (2015) and its 2024 remake.
Supermassive Games shared their condolences, stating, "Hayden brought Sam to life in Until Dawn, shaping her into one of horror gaming's most iconic final girls. Our thoughts are with her friends, family, and our community. Rest in peace, Hayden."
Panettiere's passing follows a year that has seen the loss of several other actors known for their work in video games, including Robert Duvall, who reprised his role as Tom Hagen in EA's "The Godfather," Jock Blaney, known for voicing Wolf O'Donnell in "Star Fox 64," and Tom Kane, who provided voices for characters such as Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" games.