Discretion advised: This is a developing story involving a sudden death.

Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles as Claire Bennet on NBC's Heroes and Juliette Barnes on Nashville, has died at age 36, her father confirmed in a statement Sunday, August 16. Her death comes less than a week before she would have turned 37.

What's Known So Far

Police in Greenville, South Carolina, said officers accompanied by EMS personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at around 1:50 p.m. Sunday. "Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene," police said in a statement. Her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances of her death is ongoing, with more details expected in the coming days. As of this writing, no cause of death has been released.

Her Father's Statement

Panettiere's father, Skip Panettiere, shared a statement through her representative: "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." He asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."

A Career That Began in Infancy

Panettiere started working at just 11 months old, appearing in television commercials, and began performing on soap operas including One Life to Live and Guiding Light starting at age 4. She went on to appear in Remember the Titans as a child actor before rising to wider fame as Claire Bennet, the cheerleader with regenerative powers, on NBC's breakout sci-fi series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010. She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes across all six seasons of ABC/CMT's Nashville, and appeared in the Scream horror franchise, including Scream 4 (2011) and Scream VI (2023), along with the 2009 film I Love You, Beth Cooper and the title role in Lifetime's 2011 telefilm Amanda Knox.

Openness About Grief, Motherhood, and Recovery

In recent years, Panettiere had become increasingly open about personal struggles. She entered treatment for postpartum depression in October 2015 following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko; she gave Klitschko full primary custody of Kaya in 2018. Just months before her death, Panettiere released a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, reflecting candidly on her childhood fame, motherhood, mental health, and addiction recovery.

The Loss of Her Brother

Panettiere's death follows a previous family tragedy: her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly in February 2023 at age 28 from cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) coupled with aortic valve complications. She spoke openly about the grief that followed, telling NBC's Today show in 2024: "When you lose somebody that you saw in all the important moments in your life, standing right next to you, it just rocks your world." In a separate interview with People, she said, "I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss."

Remembering Hayden Panettiere

Panettiere leaves behind a career spanning more than three decades and a body of work that shaped a generation of television and film fans, from her early child-star roles through her breakout turn on Heroes to her long-running lead on Nashville. She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, and her parents. For continuing updates on this developing story, see CBS News.

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, addiction, or mental health challenges, support is available through organizations like SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) or your local crisis line.