Heroes star Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36: ‘She was a force of nature’
Hayden Panettiere (Getty Images)
Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, her family confirmed in a statement, just months after she came out as bisexual in her memoir.
The actor’s death was announced on Sunday (16 August) via a statement from her father. No cause of death has been given at this time.
In the statement, her father, Skip Panettiere, 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.”
He went on to ask for privacy for her family as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.
Panettiere began her acting career at just 11 months old, with her first role being a toy advert. At age nine, she voiced Dot in A Bug’s Life, which was her film debut. From this point on, Panettiere worked steadily before taking on the iconic role of Claire Bennet in Heroes. The hit show ran for four seasons and catapulted Panettiere into fame.
She also went on to star in the hit show Nashville as troubled musician Juliette Barnes. This role earned her two Golden Globe nominations and saw 11 of her songs enter Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts.
Following the birth of her daughter in 2014, Panettiere struggled with anxiety, depression, substance abuse and alcoholism. She gave full custody of her daughter to her ex-partner, Ukrainian heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018 so that she could focus on her recovery.
Panettiere got candid about her journey in a 2022 interview with People, saying: “This hasn’t been easy and there were a lot of ups and downs. But I don’t regret even the ugliest things that have happened to me. I feel incredibly accomplished. And I feel like I have a second chance.”
She published her memoir earlier this year, This is Me: A Reckoning, in which spoke about the struggles she has had with fame, addiction and recovery. She also spoke about her sexuality, coming out as bisexual. Of coming out, she said: “I had to wait until I was 36 years old to share that part of me, but better late than never.”
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