Hayden Panettiere, an actress recognized for her roles in the television series "Heroes" and the video game "Until Dawn," has died at the age of 36. Her passing was confirmed on Sunday evening.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, issued a statement acknowledging the "profound sadness" of her death, 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."
While Panettiere gained widespread recognition as cheerleader Claire Bennett in the superhero drama "Heroes," her career also included notable contributions to the gaming world. She starred alongside Rami Malek in the choice-and-consequence horror game "Until Dawn," providing both voice and motion-capture performance. Additionally, she lent her voice to Kairi in the "Kingdom Hearts" series.
Panettiere also received two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of a country music star in the television series "Nashville." Her filmography includes appearances in three "Scream" films released after 2011.
Earlier this year, Panettiere released a memoir titled "This is Me: A Reckoning," which detailed her experiences with early fame, postpartum depression, addiction, and recovery. She had a daughter in 2014 with boxer Wladimir Klitschko; the child has resided with her father since 2018.