American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, has died at the age of 36.
Her death was confirmed by her representative on Sunday, August 16, with her father, Skip Panettiere, also releasing a statement on behalf of the family.
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The cause of death has not been disclosed. Her death is currently being reported as unexpected, while further details surrounding what happened have not been made public.
In a statement, her father described Hayden as a remarkable person whose presence brought happiness to those around her and to the millions of people who watched her work.
“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.
Hayden leaves behind her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing in commercials and television productions before becoming one of the familiar young faces on American television.
She gained wider recognition after appearing alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans. She also provided the voice of Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.
Her major breakthrough came when she was cast as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative abilities, in the hit superhero series Heroes.
She later took on another major television role as country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance.
Panettiere also appeared as Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise and contributed her voice to the video game Until Dawn.
Earlier this year, Panettiere released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she discussed difficult periods in her life, including postpartum depression, addiction and her journey toward recovery.
She had also spoken publicly about motherhood and her relationship with her daughter, describing Kaya as one of the most important parts of her life.
Panettiere’s death comes just months after she returned to the public spotlight to promote her memoir and reflect on her life and career.
The actress is survived by her daughter, Kaya, and her parents.
May her soul rest in peace.