Hayden Panettiere, the actor known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, according to her father, Skip Hayden. He announced her death in a statement provided to ABC News on Sunday, describing his daughter as a much-loved person who brought joy to her family, friends and audiences. The Associated Press also confirmed her death, while the circumstances surrounding it remain under investigation.

Hayden’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Law enforcement sources cited in the supplied report indicated that police responded to an incident involving the actor on Sunday, but an investigation was ongoing. Reports that she had complained of back pain during the past year have also emerged, although there is currently no confirmed link between that complaint and her death.

The actor had previously spoken publicly about mental health challenges and substance addiction. In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, she discussed the difficult period she experienced and the work she undertook to rebuild her life. She also opened up about postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

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Hayden discussed those experiences in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published in 2024. She described the emotional difficulties she experienced after becoming a mother and her struggle to develop a bond with her daughter during that period. Her openness about postpartum depression and recovery brought wider attention to issues surrounding maternal mental health and addiction.

Hayden began her acting career as a child in the 1990s and went on to build a varied career in television and film. Her breakthrough came with Heroes, in which she played cheerleader Claire Bennet, a character with regenerative abilities. She later starred as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, where she also showcased her singing abilities. Her film credits included Remember the Titans, A Bug’s Life and Scream VI.

The actor’s death has prompted tributes from fans and colleagues as further details remain awaited. Her father’s announcement confirmed the death but did not provide a cause, and authorities have not publicly established what led to it. Until official findings are released, speculation about the cause of death remains unconfirmed.

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