US actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her family confirmed the news on Sunday.
Family statement
A spokesperson for the actress confirmed her death to US network ABC News. Her father, Skip, issued a statement: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden."
He added: "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 also requested privacy for the family as they "take time to process this unimaginable loss". No cause of death has been disclosed.
Career highlights
Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington. She also voiced the character Dot in the 1998 animated film A Bug's Life.
She rose to prominence playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes, which later became a hit on Netflix. She then starred as aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes across six seasons of the TV series Nashville.
Her film credits include Bring It On: All Or Nothing (2006), the comedy-drama Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.
Personal struggles and memoir
Panettiere had previously spoken about struggling with substance abuse during her twenties. In a memoir released earlier this year, she discussed her mental health challenges, the death of her younger brother Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter to her ex-partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
