US actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her representatives confirmed her death, followed by a statement from her father, Skip.
“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,” the statement read.
Celebrity tributes
Celebrities including Selma Blair, Rosie O'Donnell, and singer JoJo have paid tribute to the star, as her former co-stars reach out across the globe. In her final Instagram post, shared on 27 July, Panettiere smiled with her friend, photographer and director Randall Slavin, who later reposted the black-and-white image to his Instagram Stories, writing: “Peace be with you, H.”
7th Heaven’s Beverley Mitchell commented on the post: “Praying the news is wrong! You are such a bright light and soooo loved!!!!” Scream co-star Melissa Barrera wrote on Instagram Stories, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” alongside a broken heart emoji. Singer JoJo wrote: “This is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God.”
Viola Davis and Selma Blair remember Panettiere
Viola Davis, who appeared alongside Panettiere in the 2016 courtroom drama film Custody, shared a tribute on social media. “What an amazing talent you were….so gifted. Julius and I loved working with you….an old, wise soul with such a deep heart. I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name…” Davis’ husband Julius Tennon also appeared in the film.
Selma Blair led tributes with heartbreaking comments on Panettiere's Instagram. “I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone . Please. Please,” read one comment. She later shared: “I love you whale tail my friend.” An hour later she added: “I’m dying. Please be here.”
Final interviews
In a May 2026 podcast interview with Jay Shetty, Panettiere said she felt she had a lot more life to live. “I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” she said while promoting her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened … I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”
In one of her final interviews, with parenting outlet Mome for its July cover, she spoke about giving up custody of her daughter Kaya, 11, to her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko. “It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be,” she said. After birthing her daughter in 2014, Panettiere haemorrhaged and underwent seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair vessels. She then suffered from postpartum depression and turned to alcohol. “I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day,” she said. Six years on from giving up custody, she said: “I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.”
