Actress Hayden Panettiere, beloved for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, has died at just 36 years old.
Panettiere died Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders were called after she was found unresponsive, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and no cause of death has been officially disclosed.
A former child star who grew up in the spotlight, Panettiere became a household name as cheerleader Claire Bennet on Heroes and later earned two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville. She also returned to the big screen as Kirby Reed in Scream VI.
Her death comes only months after she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she opened up about the difficult experiences and personal struggles she had faced throughout her life.
Panettiere leaves behind her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, as well as her parents and countless fans who grew up watching her on screen.
She was only 36 — a heartbreaking loss of a life and career that still had so much ahead of it.