Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the actress celebrated for her performances in the NBC series "Heroes" and the musical drama "Nashville," has died at age 36, according to multiple reports.

Sources with direct knowledge told TMZ that Panettiere passed away earlier on Sunday. The actress had traveled from Los Angeles to the south on Saturday with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson. Sources indicated that Hickerson's family has been informed of the death.

"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," her representative said in a statement to ABC News.

Panettiere built a successful career that began in childhood and spanned multiple decades. Her breakout role came when she portrayed cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC superhero series "Heroes," which made her a household name. She subsequently earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of country singer Juliette Barnes on "Nashville," receiving multiple award nominations for the performance.

Beyond television, the actress appeared in the "Scream" horror franchise, including "Scream 4" and "Scream VI." She also provided voice work for the video game "Until Dawn."

In recent years, Panettiere became increasingly candid about her personal challenges. She released a memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning," in which she addressed her experiences with childhood fame, motherhood, mental health struggles, and the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere.

Jansen Panettiere died in 2023 at age 28. Following his death, Hayden spoke publicly about the profound impact of losing her brother and the guilt she experienced in the aftermath. She is survived by her daughter Kaya, whom she shares with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere was last photographed publicly in May at LaGuardia Airport with a friend, shortly before her memoir was released.

Additional details surrounding the circumstances of her death were not immediately available.