Hayden Panettiere, the actress who grew up in front of Hollywood cameras before becoming a star of Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, has died. She was 36. Panettiere died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, just days before what would have been her 37th birthday. Her death was confirmed by her family through her representative.
The loss comes just three years after the sudden death of Panettiere's younger brother, actor and artist Jansen Panettiere, who died in February 2023 at only 28. Authorities have not yet announced an official cause of death for Hayden Panettiere.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesAccording to the Associated Press, she was found unresponsive at an apartment complex in South Carolina. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures before she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the preliminary investigation showed no signs of foul play, and an autopsy is pending. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department said, according to PEOPLE. “An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
What Happened to Hayden Panettiere?
Hayden Panettiere's death was confirmed on Aug. 16, with her father, Skip, sharing the family's grief in a statement released through her representative. Details surrounding her final hours remain limited. "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," his statement said. Reuters reports that no cause of death has been disclosed.
The news is especially striking because Panettiere had recently returned to the public eye with new acting work and a memoir that explored her life as a child star, her personal struggles and her efforts to move forward.
© FilmMagicEarlier in 2026, she starred in and produced the psychological thriller Sleepwalker. She also released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in May.
Hayden Panettiere's Death Comes 3 Years After Brother Jansen Died
For Panettiere and her family, her death follows another devastating loss. Her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died on Feb. 19, 2023, at age 28. Jansen was an actor and artist who appeared in projects including Even Stevens, Tiger Cruise, Everybody Hates Chris and The Walking Dead. Like his older sister, he began working in entertainment at a young age.
Following his sudden death, the Panettiere family revealed that the medical examiner determined Jansen died from cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, combined with aortic valve complications.
© FilmMagicHayden was open about how deeply her brother's death affected her. On the second anniversary of Jansen's death in February 2025, she publicly remembered him and described the pain of losing him as impossible to quantify. She had also spoken about the physical and emotional effects grief had on her life.
Now, just three and a half years after Jansen's death, the Panettiere family is confronting the death of Hayden at another extraordinarily young age.
© WireImageHayden Panettiere Became Famous on ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’
Panettiere's career stretched across more than three decades. She began working as a child and appeared on television before most viewers who later became fans of hers had ever heard her name. Her early credits included One Life to Live and Guiding Light, while her film work included Remember the Titans.
Her major breakthrough came with NBC's Heroes, where she played Claire Bennet, the seemingly indestructible cheerleader who became one of the show's most recognizable characters.
© Getty ImagesPanettiere later took on one of the defining roles of her career as Juliette Barnes on ABC's Nashville. Her performance as the ambitious and complicated country singer earned her two Golden Globe nominations. The role also allowed Panettiere to combine acting and music, with songs from the series reaching Billboard's country charts.
She also became a familiar face to horror fans through the Scream franchise. After playing Kirby Reed in Scream 4 in 2011, Panettiere returned to the character more than a decade later in Scream VI in 2023.
Hayden Panettiere Had Recently Shared Her Story in a Memoir
In the months before her death, Panettiere was speaking publicly about her past with unusual openness. Her 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” addressed difficult chapters of her life, including addiction, postpartum depression, relationships and the pressures that accompanied growing up in the entertainment industry.
© Getty ImagesThe actress had previously discussed seeking treatment for alcohol addiction and postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. Her willingness to discuss those experiences became an important part of her public story, particularly as she returned to acting after spending time away from Hollywood.
Hayden Panettiere Leaves Behind Her Daughter Kaya
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya is 11.
Panettiere had recently spoken publicly about her daughter showing an interest in acting. In a May 2026 interview, she discussed Kaya's curiosity about following her into the entertainment business and the complicated emotions that possibility brought up after Panettiere's own experience growing up as a child performer.
© Getty ImagesShe is also survived by her parents. The death of Hayden Panettiere leaves her family facing another profound loss only three years after Jansen's death.
