The world of show business mourns today the death of young actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away this Sunday at the age of 36 due to causes that are still unknown. The actress, who made a name for herself thanks to series such as ‘Heroes’ or films like ‘Scream 4’, had been vocal about back pain according to TMZ, although it has not been confirmed that the ailment played a role in her passing. For now, the only certain detail is that police received a call on Sunday regarding the actress, and there is currently an ongoing investigation to clarify the events surrounding her death.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature that brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone who knew her, and to the millions who watched her on screen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss,” reads the statement released by the artist’s father.
From ‘Heroes’ to ‘Scream’, a lifetime in front of the camera
As the daughter of a soap-opera actress, Hayden Panettiere’s life was tied to show business almost from birth. She began by doing a few commercials before she was even one year old, and before turning five she already had a fixed role in an American soap opera.
She moved between series and telenovelas throughout her childhood, with roles as recognizable as Maddie Harrington, Ally’s daughter in the series ‘Ally McBeal’, or the quirky friend in ‘Malcolm’.
Her big breakthrough, however, came when she turned 18. It was then that Tim Kring cast her as one of the leads in his series ‘Heroes’, where she portrayed Claire Bennet. “Save the cheerleader, save the world” was the slogan most heard on television in 2006.
Her work on ‘Heroes’ propelled her popularity and she soon joined another iconic teen franchise, the Scream series, where she played Kirby Reed in the fourth film and reprised the role in the sixth installment.
After ‘Heroes’, now firmly an adult, she took on a more mature part in the country drama series ‘Nashville’ opposite Connie Britton. It became her longest-running role, appearing in 112 episodes until 2018.
The loss of her brother marked her recent life
On the personal front, Panettiere had three well-known partners: her co-star Milo Ventimiglia from 2007 to 2009, the boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she had a daughter in 2014, and more recently Brian Hickerson, with whom she was involved in a publicized dispute that drew media attention.
Although what stood out most in Panettiere’s later years was the loss of her brother Jansen, who died in 2023 at the age of 28 from a congenital heart condition.
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