Hayden Panettiere, 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' star, dies at 36

SHAH ALAM – American actress Hayden Panettiere, beloved for her iconic roles on "Heroes" and "Nashville", has died at the age of 36.

Her death was confirmed by her representative to ABC News on Monday, with her father, Skip Panettiere, issuing a statement on behalf of the family.

"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," her father said.

He asked for privacy as the family took time to process what he described as an unimaginable loss.

The cause and manner of death were not immediately known.

Panettiere is best remembered for playing Claire Bennet, an indestructible cheerleader, on the hit series "Heroes" and as country music singer Juliette Barnes on the musical drama "Nashville."

She also appeared in "Remember the Titans", "Raising Helen", "Ice Princess" and "Scream 4."

Her career began before she could walk. She made her on-screen debut in television commercials in the early 1990s before she was even one year old, growing up entirely in the public eye and navigating the pressures of child stardom well into adulthood.

Panettiere's death followed the recent release of her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning", published in May, in which she candidly discussed her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction, trauma and domestic abuse, alongside the loss of her brother in 2023.

She had revealed that her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction had led to her decision to give up custody of her daughter in 2018.

She is survived by her parents and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya. Kaya was born in 2014 from her relationship with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Her death came less than three years after the family endured another devastating loss. Her brother, Jansen Panettiere, died suddenly in February 2023 from cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, coupled with aortic valve complications. He was 28.

In her memoir, Panettiere wrote of her brother's death: "When I lost him, I felt like I lost half my soul."

Tributes from fans and the entertainment industry poured in on social media, with many remembering her warmth and resilience both on and off screen.