Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36

American actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36, her representative confirmed to multiple US news outlets. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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 onscreen," her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement.

The circumstances surrounding her death were not immediately disclosed. Her family asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."

Panettiere began her career as a child actor, landing a role on the soap opera One Life to Live at just four years old. She rose to fame as Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes, and later starred as Juliette Barnes in the country-music drama Nashville. Her film credits include Remember the Titans and Raising Helen.