Actress Hayden Panettiere has died. She was only 36. Details about her death have not been released at this time. Her rep released a statement to ABC News, calling her an “incredible light” and a “force of nature” who brought “love and joy to all who knew her.”
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Is Unknown
Actress Hayden Panettiere has passed away at 36, although her cause of death has not been released at this time.
“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,” her rep told ABC News in a statement.
She was best known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville.” She also appeared in the films “Scream 4,” “Scream VI,” and the TV movie “Amanda Knox.”
Panettiere Released Her Memoir Earlier This Year
The former child star released her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning” earlier this year. She opened up on her addiction, postpartum depression, and more.
“I was fiercely protective of people in my writing,” she told The Hollywood Reporter about her memoir. “I felt very strongly about my ability to tell my stories and make them entertaining enough to put in a book, without having to drag people through the mud. I had members of my team that I would bounce ideas off of, or ask their opinions about things like that I was writing.”
She added, “I mean, my publicist is also my dear friend and I trust her, so I leaned on her to know. And then I made sure that Vlad wasn’t going to be upset with me. But other than that, I just had to speak my truth — and it’s mine alone.”
The actress was involved in a relationship with Ukrainian champion heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko from 2009-2011 and 2013–2018. They had a daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
The Actress Felt ‘Guilt Ridden’ When It Came To Parenting
In May 2026, she told Page Six that she was “guilt-ridden” while reflecting on the toll of relinquishing custody of her daughter, Kaya, amid her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
“The worst thing that somebody said to me is that it was a personal choice that I was making,” Panettiere said during a panel discussion for her new memoir.
“Who would choose to feel like this? Like, how could you even say that to me? This beautiful child is healthy and everything to celebrate,” she continued. “And I’m completely incapable of doing it. I felt so guilt ridden that I was incapable of doing it.”
At one point in the panel, she recalled seeing a headline that read “Why Hayden Panettiere Gave Up Her Daughter” on a magazine cover while walking through an airport.
“You might as well have taken a knife and stabbed me in the heart. If anyone knew me, they [would] know that I would do absolutely anything for my daughter,” Panettiere said. “And sometimes that means not what you want as a mom or what’s going to make you feel good as a parent, but what’s best for them.”
Hayden Panettiere Had A Family ‘Emergency’ In July
The actress was set to appear at Creep I.E. Aftermath in Ontario, California, on July 11 and 12; however, she canceled her public appearance at the last minute due to a family “emergency.”
“Hayden canceled her appearance due to a private family matter concerning the health of an elderly relative,” Panettiere’s rep said in a statement to PEOPLE magazine.
The official Creep I.E. Con Instagram account shared the update to the event’s roster on July 10. “Hayden Panettiere has an emergency and will not be able to attend this weekend. We are looking forward to her appearing at an upcoming show,” the statement read.
Inside Her Last Instagram Post
Her last post on Instagram was a photo shared on July 27 with director, podcaster, and photographer Randall Slavin. The caption read: “Good times and good friends.”
Many fans took to the comments immediately after the news of her passing. While many followers expressed disbelief or commented “Rest In Peace,” one user shared a personal memory of the young star.
“RIP Hayden. Would always remember you when you were a kid walking into our restaurant with your Dad to pick up Thai food. We always complimented you on how pretty you were,” they wrote. “Your Dad told us that you would be famous one day, and he was right.”
RIP Hayden Panettiere.