In Brief
- Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36, U.S. media reported on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
- She was best known for her starring roles in TV series Heroes and Nashville.
- Her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, confirmed her passing in a statement quoted by ABC News.
- He described her as an incredible light who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.
American actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in television series such as Nashville and Heroes, has died at the age of 36. U.S. media outlets reported her passing on Sunday, August 16, 2026, citing an official statement provided by her 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," ABC News quoted her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, as saying. Details surrounding the circumstances of her death have not been disclosed, and her passing has elicited an outpouring of grief among fans and colleagues worldwide.
