LIVEActress Hayden Panettiere, known for roles in Heroes and Nashville, dies aged 36In a statement, Panettiere's father says she was "a force of nature". No cause of death has been confirmed.

Media caption, Watch: Hayden Panettiere speaks to the BBC about her career in 2010 and 2013Live ReportingEdited by Jack Burgess and Jamie Whitehead, with writing from culture reporter Yasmin Rufo Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Davis and Panettiere starred alongside each other in both 2006's The Architect and 2016's CustodyOscar-winner Viola Davis has paid tribute…

EntertainmentAugust 17, 2026News Info Wire2 min read

LIVEActress Hayden Panettiere, known for roles in Heroes and Nashville, dies aged 36In a statement, Panettiere's father says she was "a force of nature". No cause of death has been confirmed.

Key points

In 2023, grief struck Panettiere when her brother Jansen died aged 28 from an enlarged heart.
In a tribute she posted to him in 2025, she said she prayed that he was in "a beautiful place"…
“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” she told Residents magazine the following year.
The actor said she “will always be heartbroken about it”, adding: “I will never be able to secure over it.

Watch: Hayden Panettiere speaks to the BBC about her career in 2010 and 2013

Live Reporting

Edited by Jack Burgess and Jamie Whitehead, with writing from culture reporter Yasmin Rufo

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Davis and Panettiere starred alongside each other in both 2006’s The Architect and 2016’s Custody

Oscar-winner Viola Davis has paid tribute to her former co-star Hayden Panettiere following the death of the actress.

“What an amazing talent you were… so gifted,” Davis wrote on Instagram, describing Panettiere as an “old, wise soul with such a deep heart”.

“I wish the world had more time with you as I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes,” adds Davis, who starred alongside Panettiere in The Architect in 2006 and Custody from 2016.

“Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden,” she adds.

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Maddie Lake
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Hayden and Jansen Panettiere pictured together in 2019

“He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” she told Residents magazine the following year. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.”

The actor said she “will always be heartbroken about it”, adding: “I will never be able to secure over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never secure over his loss.”

The grief she said additionally affected her physically. “I just ballooned out,” she told Residents.

“It didn’t matter what I did, what I ate. I know stress and cortisol running through your body can do that. Now I think my body was protecting itself, shielding itself from the world.”

In a tribute she posted to him in 2025, she said she prayed that he was in “a beautiful place”, adding, “I’ll see you again”.