17 August 2026 , 08:32
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Actress Hayden Panettiere has died aged 36.
The US actress was best known for roles in superhero drama "Heroes" and in the Scream franchise.
Her family revealed her death in a statement to ABC News.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," her father, Skip Panettiere said.
"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 on screen."
Her father has asked that the privacy of their family is respected as it "takes time to process this unimaginable loss".
A cause of death was not immediately known, but her publicist, Kasey Kitchen, said it was being investigated.
She told NBC News: "There’s an investigation ongoing. We should know more tomorrow."
Tributes from fans poured in on social media.
"I just can’t fully process that Hayden Panetierre is gone. It just doesn’t feel right, it’s so heartbreaking," one fan said.
"Hayden Panetierre has no business being gone. We grew up together. I’ve been watching her on tv since we were kids," another said.
Ms Panettiere is best known on TV for her role as superpowered cheerleader Claire Bennet on hit series "Heroes".
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