Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

Published August 17th, 2026 - 05:52 GMT
Hayden Panettiere
American star Hayden Panettiere. (Instagram)

ALBAWABA - American star Hayden Panettiere passed away at the age of 36, her father announced Monday.

The star of the two famous TV shows, Heroes and Nashville, died suddenly, and no information about the cause of her death is known.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to the media, "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."

The star published a memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning" to highlight her struggles as a child actor and her experiences with addiction, abuse and later recovery.

Hayden Panettiere

Who is Hayden Panettiere?

Hayden Panettiere is an American actress who started acting at a very young age. When she was a 4-year-old girl, she joined the cast of U.S. soap opera One Life to Live, the BBC reported.

Additionally, Hayden Panettiere also starred in the sci-fi series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010.