Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36: A Look at Her Life and Career

Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Remember the Titans and the sci-fi series Heroes, has passed away at the age of 36, confirmed by her representative to CBS News.

It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden, said Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, in a statement through her representative. 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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.

Details surrounding her death were not disclosed to the public.

Panettiere’s career extended over more than thirty years, featuring roles in both movies and television. She appeared in the Scream horror film series and the TV drama Nashville.

In recent months, Panettiere openly discussed the challenges faced by young actors. She released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in May. The memoir detailed her childhood and experiences with addiction, physical abuse, and recovery.

In May, Panettiere spoke with Gayle King about her memoir during an interview. She recalled how her mother brought her to audition rooms as an infant, and by age five, she had appeared in 50 commercials. When your mother has chosen to take the 8-month-old baby into those audition rooms, and it went from there and progressed into 50 commercials by the time I was 5 … It just never stopped, she revealed to CBS News.

Panettiere noted the influence her mother had on her career. I didn’t care about anybody’s opinion but my mom’s, because I knew that if she was unhappy with my performance in any way, that the rest of the day was gonna be ruined, she shared.

In October 2015, Panettiere sought treatment for postpartum depression after giving birth to her first child in December 2014. She eventually gave full primary custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in 2018.

Her passing is mourned by fans who have followed her journey from childhood stardom to adult struggles and accomplishments.