Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in “Remember the Titans” and “Heroes,” died at age 36. Her representative confirmed the news to CBS News.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” stated her father, Skip Panettiere, through a representative. “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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Details surrounding Panettiere’s death have not been disclosed. Her career spanned over three decades, featuring roles in movies and television, including the “Scream” series and the TV drama “Nashville.”
Recently, Panettiere opened up about the challenges of being a young actor. In May, she released a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” where she recounted her childhood and struggled with addiction, physical abuse, and recovery.
During an interview with CBS News’ Gayle King in May, Panettiere discussed her memoir. “When your mother has chosen to take the 8-month-old baby into those audition rooms, and it went from there and progressed into 50 commercials by the time I was 5… It just never stopped,” she shared. “I didn’t care about anybody’s opinion but my mom’s because I knew that if she was unhappy with my performance in any way, that the rest of the day was gonna be ruined.”
In October 2015, Panettiere sought treatment for postpartum depression after the birth of her first child in December 2014. In 2018, she gave full primary custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.