Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, just six days before her birthday. Her father, Skip, confirmed the news on Sunday, with a statement that read: “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”.
Cause of death unclear
Hayden's cause of death has not been confirmed. TMZ reported that she and her boyfriend Brian Hickerson had flown out of Los Angeles on Saturday, and that police responded to an “incident”. An investigation is ongoing.
Brother's death three years earlier
Three years before her own death, Hayden suffered the loss of her younger brother Jansen, who died aged 28 in 2023. Jansen, also a child star, died after “complications with an enlarged heart”.
