Hayden Panettiere, known for roles in the series Heroes and the Scream film series, died on August 16, 2026, at the age of 36. Her representative told ABC News that the family shares the news with profound sadness, noting she brought joy to those who knew her and to audiences worldwide. She is survived by her daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko and parents Skip Panettiere and Lesley Vogel. Panettiere started acting at 11 months old in a 1990 commercial. She later appeared in soap operas including One Life to Live and Guiding Light. She received a Grammy nomination for voicing Princess Dot in A Bug’s Life. Global fame came from playing Claire Bennet in Heroes and Kirby Reed in Scream 4, a cult classic in the horror genre. She also appeared in Scream 6 in 2023 and earned two Golden Globe nominations for her role as Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Her final part was Sarah Pangborn in the 2026 film Sleepwalker. The cause of death has not been disclosed. In 2023 her brother Jansen Panettiere died at 28 from cardiomegaly and aortic valve issues. In her 2026 memoir she discussed pressures of fame, addiction struggles, postpartum depression, custody decisions, and her brother’s loss. Fans and colleagues have shared tributes online, especially under her final Instagram post from July 2026.
