Hayden Panettiere, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’ Star, Dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles in Heroes, Scream, and Nashville, has died at age 36.

Her death was confirmed by her representative and her father, Skip Panettiere, who described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature.” No cause of death has been disclosed.

Panettiere began working professionally as a child, appearing in commercials and television before making her film debut as the voice of Princess Dot in Pixar’s animated classic A Bug’s Life. Her film career continued with a memorable appearance in Remember the Titans (2000), in which she played Sheryl Yoast, the daughter of assistant coach Bill Yoast, portrayed by Will Patton. The football drama, starring Denzel Washington, became one of her most notable early screen credits.

Her film work during the 2000s included Raising Helen, Ice Princess, Tiger Cruise, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and the romantic comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper. While her television work ultimately made her a household name, Panettiere continued building a diverse film résumé, moving between family films, comedy, drama, and horror. Her most recognizable film role came as Kirby Reed in Scream 4 (2011), a character she later reprised more than a decade later in Scream VI (2023).

Between those film appearances, Panettiere delivered the performances that defined much of her career. As Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes, she became internationally known as the seemingly indestructible cheerleader and one of the series’ central characters. She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on ABC’s Nashville, a role that showcased both her dramatic abilities and her singing talents and earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Panettiere’s later film work included the courtroom drama Custody (2016), Berlin, I Love You (2019), Scream VI, and the 2025 horror-comedy A Breed Apart, in which she appeared alongside Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner.

Her final released film was Sleepwalker, a psychological thriller directed by Brandon Auman. Panettiere starred as Sarah, an accomplished artist haunted by the death of her daughter and increasingly disturbing visions following a devastating accident. The film, produced by Appian Way and Verdi Productions, received a North American release through Brainstorm Media on January 9, 2026, in theaters and on demand.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya Klitschko, and her parents, Lesley R. Vogel and Alan ‘Skip’ Panettiere.