Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose to fame as a teenager on "Heroes" and later starred in the country-music drama "Nashville," died Sunday at 36. She was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, and pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. after paramedics were unable to revive her, according to NBC News.
An acquaintance called 911 from the Judson Mill Lofts complex reporting that Panettiere was in cardiac arrest. The Greenville County Coroner's Office said an autopsy completed the following day found no signs of trauma, and police reported no indication of foul play. Toxicology results and further studies remain outstanding, and a final cause of death is still pending further investigation. Panettiere would have turned 37 on August 21.
A Career That Started in Diapers
Panettiere began working in commercials before her first birthday and moved into soap operas as a child, appearing on "One Life to Live" and "Guiding Light." She broke through as a teenager in the ensemble sports drama "Remember the Titans" and the cheerleading comedy "Bring It On: All or Nothing," before landing the role that made her a household name: cheerleader-turned-superhero Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes," which ran from 2006 to 2010.
She went on to headline CMT and ABC's "Nashville" as rising country star Juliette Barnes for six seasons, earning two Golden Globe nominations. Her film credits also include the "Scream" franchise and the figure-skating drama "Ice Princess." Most recently she appeared in the 2026 thriller "Sleepwalker" and published a memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," in May, in which she wrote candidly about postpartum depression, domestic violence and years of alcohol and substance abuse.
Tributes From Co-Stars
"Nashville" co-star Connie Britton posted a tribute on Instagram Monday alongside photos from their years working together.
This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright. I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.
Connie Britton, via Deadline
"Heroes" co-star Masi Oka posted a tribute of his own on X.
Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Hayden. I had the privilege of working closely with her, and I'll always remember her for her beautiful spirit, immense talent and the joyful energy she brought to everything she did and the people around her. She was way wiser beyond her years and now gone too soon.
Masi Oka
Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, released a statement on behalf of the family confirming her death.
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.
Skip Panettiere, family statement, via E! News
Off camera, Panettiere was a longtime animal-rights advocate. At 18 she traveled to Taiji, Japan, as a spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation to protest the annual dolphin hunt there, an encounter later depicted in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove." She returned to Japan after the film's release to press local officials on the practice, work that made her one of the more committed celebrity conservationists of her generation. The loss also follows years in which she spoke openly about her own struggles, including an eight-month stay in treatment beginning in 2020, after she said a doctor had warned her she could be dead within five years if she did not stop drinking. Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at age 28 of an enlarged heart, a loss she had described as devastating in interviews tied to her memoir's publication earlier this year.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office and city police said their parallel investigations remain open pending toxicology results. No timeline for a final ruling has been announced.
