Hayden Panettiere, the actress who rose to fame as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBCās "Heroes" before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes on "Nashville," has died. She was 36.
Panettiereās representative confirmed her death to ABC News on Sunday, expressing grief over the loss of the actress and former child star.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," her representative said in a statement.
"She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her ā and to the millions who watched her onscreen," the statement continued.
No cause of death or additional details about the circumstances surrounding Panettiereās death were immediately released.
Panettiere began working as a child actress before becoming a household name through her role as Claire Bennet on "Heroes."
The NBC series ran from 2006 to 2010 and followed people with extraordinary abilities.
She later took on another major television role as Juliette Barnes on "Nashville," portraying a young country music star navigating fame, relationships and personal struggles. The series ran from 2012 to 2018.
In recent years, Panettiere spoke publicly about some of the challenges she faced while growing up in the entertainment industry.
She discussed postpartum depression, substance abuse and the pressures of being a public figure in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," which was published in May.
The actress was also a mother of one and had continued to reflect on her personal experiences and career in the years leading up to her death.
Her representative described Panettiere as someone who had a significant impact both on those who knew her personally and on audiences who followed her work.
The news of her death comes as fans and colleagues remember an actress whose career began in childhood and included some of televisionās most recognizable roles of the 2000s and 2010s.
No further information about her death was immediately available.