Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in US TV shows Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36, US media reports said.

“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’s father, Skip, was quoted by ABC news as saying.

The cause of Panettiere’s death has not yet been announced. Her father has urged for privacy.

She would have turned 37 on Friday.

Who was Hayden Panettiere?

Panettiere began her career as a child actor, featuring in commercials and soap operas.

She gained ‌widespread recognition as the voice of Dot, the young princess ant in Pixar’s 1998 animated success A ​Bug’s Life, and earned a Grammy nomination for the film’s spoken word album for children.

Panettiere catapulted to fame with her role as Claire Bennett – a high school cheerleader ​with super powers – on NBC’s television series Heroes, which debuted in 2006 and went on to be a hit.

She also starred as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the musical drama Nashville.

Panettiere also worked in two films of the satirical horror Scream franchise, Bring It On: All Or Nothing, I Love You Beth Cooper and Remember the Titans.

Her last appearance was in the ​psychological thriller Sleepwalker, which was released in ⁠the US in January.

Vocal about her struggles

Panettiere was open about her struggles with alcohol addiction and depression.

She revealed that she had had dealt with addiction through her 20s.

Her younger brother – actor Jansen Panettiere – died in 2023 at 28 due to a heart condition.

Hayden’s memoir was published earlier this year, where she spoke about her battle with mental health, the loss of her brother, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

DW