Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose to prominence playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC science-fiction drama 'Heroes' and later earned critical recognition for her role as country music star Juliette Barnes on 'Nashville,' has died at the age of 36. Her death was confirmed by multiple outlets on August 16 and 17, 2026.

Panettiere began her career as a child actress and became a recognizable face in both television and film over the course of more than two decades in the entertainment industry. In addition to her television work, she appeared in the 'Scream' horror franchise, further expanding her profile among mainstream audiences.

Beyond her acting career, Panettiere was publicly open about personal struggles, including her battle with postpartum depression, which she discussed in interviews and which brought her additional public attention and advocacy recognition. She had a daughter, Kaya, with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues across social media. She was 36 years old at the time of her death. The cause of death had not been publicly confirmed in initial reports.