Actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36, famous for Heroes and Nashville roles
SCMP · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hayden Panettiere, the American actress celebrated for her roles in the television hits Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, announced her death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday, 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 . No cause of death was announced, and a publicist for Panettiere did not immediately respond to requests for comment . Panettiere, who would have turned 37 on Friday, began her career as a child actor in commercials and soap operas before rising to international fame .
Key Points
- Hayden Panettiere gained widespread recognition playing Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with superpowers, in NBC's Heroes (2006), a series built around the mantra "Save the cheerleader, save the world"
- She starred as country music singer Juliette Barnes in ABC's Nashville for four seasons, earning Golden Globe nominations in 2013 and 2014 for Best Supporting Actress
- Her film credits include voicing Princess Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life (1998), appearing in Remember the Titans (2000) starring Denzel Washington, and the Scream horror franchise
- Panettiere had 11 songs recorded for Nashville appear on Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts, and she earned a Grammy nomination for her children's spoken word album from A Bug's Life
- She struggled openly with alcohol addiction and depression, including after the birth of her daughter in 2014; her memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning" was published this year
Why It Matters
Panettiere's death at such a young age highlights the ongoing mental health challenges faced by entertainers in the spotlight. Her openness about addiction and depression in her memoir, published just this year, may now serve as a cautionary tale for fans who followed her career and admired her vulnerability in sharing her struggles .
Panettiere's death at such a young age highlights the ongoing mental health challenges faced by entertainers in the spotlight. Her openness about addiction and depression in her memoir, published just this year, may now serve as a cautionary tale for fans who followed her career and admired her vulnerability in sharing her struggles .