Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36

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

In a statement shared by her representative, Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Specific details about her death have not been disclosed.

Panettiere’s career spanned more than three decades. She appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the Scream horror series and the TV drama Nashville.

Recently, Panettiere opened up about the challenges she faced as a child actor living under the spotlight. In May, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which discussed her childhood experiences, addiction, physical abuse, and journey to recovery.

“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 shared with CBS News’ Gayle King in an interview.

In 2015, Panettiere sought treatment for postpartum depression following the birth of her first child in December 2014. By 2018, she gave full primary custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko.