Hayden Panettiere’s co-stars speak out following news of actor’s death aged 36: ‘Such devastating news!’
Several famous faces and former colleagues of the American actress Hayden Panettiere have spoken out following news of her death at age 36.
The actress was celebrated for her performances in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise. Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the news in a statement to ABC News.
“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 said.
Skip Panettiere also requested privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Hayden Panettiere at the premiere of Scream VI, in which she reprised her role as Kirby Reed
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REUTERSNo cause of death has been disclosed. TMZ reported that police were called to an incident at the actress’s home on Sunday evening.
Her representatives confirmed the news to multiple US outlets on Monday morning.
Tributes from fellow actors, colleagues, and friends swiftly followed the announcement. Scream co-star Melissa Barrera wrote on her Instagram story: “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Actress Selma Blair commented beneath Panettiere’s most recent social media post: “I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please.”
Melissa Barrera was one of the first of Panettiere’s co-stars to speak out
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INSTAGRAM/MELISSA BARRERA
Singer JoJo shared on her Instagram stories: “This is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God.”
The actors’ union Sag-Aftra, of which Ms Panettiere had been a member since 1994, posted on X: “We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere.
“A child actor, Hayden’s long career in TV & film included memorable roles in ‘Heroes,’ ‘Nashville’ & more. Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans.”
Ms Panettiere’s career began remarkably early, with her first appearance in a toy advert at just 11 months old.
Singer JoJo similarly paid tribute
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INSTAGRAM/JOJO
By the age of nine, she had voiced the character Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, and in 2000 she featured alongside Denzel Washington in the sports drama Remember the Titans.
Her breakthrough arrived in 2006 with NBC’s sci-fi series Heroes, in which she portrayed Claire Bennet, a high-school cheerleader possessing the ability to heal from any injury. The show became a global phenomenon, running for four seasons until 2010.
Following Heroes, she took on the role of aspiring country music star Juliette Barnes in Nashville, which aired from 2012 to 2018.
That performance secured her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress and yielded 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
She also portrayed Kirby Reed in Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Earlier this year, Ms Panettiere released her New York Times bestselling memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which explored her childhood in Hollywood, her battles with addiction and postpartum depression, abusive relationships, and the painful decision to relinquish custody of her daughter Kaya to former partner and heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
“I didn’t know where the alcoholism was ending and the postpartum was beginning,” Ms Panettiere said in a 2022 interview. “And I ran myself pretty ragged.”
Speaking on the Jay Shetty podcast about her memoir just months before her death, she said through tears: “I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this this darkness and this negativity.
We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere. A child actor, Hayden’s long career in TV & film included memorable roles in ‘Heroes,’ ‘Nashville’ & more. Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans. #RIP. 🕊️ #SagAftraMember since 1994 https://t.co/oJSF7ch1hX
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) August 17, 2026
“And that means I’ve closed one door and another door is opened and and and I can feel it opened and and I can feel all the possibilities all the exciting possibilities. I’ve I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”
Ms Panettiere’s younger brother Jansen died suddenly in 2023 at the age of 28 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
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