U.S. actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, a representative confirmed. She died on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, issued a statement following the news. She is survived by a daughter, Kaya Evdokia, born in 2014.
Panettiere was best known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, including her portrayal of Claire Bennet in Heroes. Earlier this year, she published her memoir, 'This Is Me: A Reckoning,' in May 2026.