Popular and beloved Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36.
Panettiere was best known for her roles in the hit television series Heroes and Nashville. Her father, Skip Panettiere, announced her death in a statement provided to ABC News .
“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,” the statement said.
No cause of death had been announced as of Monday.
Hayden Panettiere played Claire Bennet in Heroes
Panettiere rose to international fame in her late teens when she was cast as Claire Bennet in Heroes. The character was a high school cheerleader with the extraordinary ability to regenerate from injuries, making her virtually indestructible.
Claire quickly became one of the show’s most recognisable characters, with her storyline playing a central role in the first season.
The iconic phrase, “Save the cheerleader, save the world,” became one of the defining lines of the series and helped cement Panettiere’s character in television history.
Claire’s journey saw her evolve from a teenager trying to hide her extraordinary abilities into a public figure determined to protect others with special powers.
Hayden Panettiere was known for roles in Heroes and Nashville
In the first season, Claire struggles to understand and control her regenerative abilities while becoming increasingly important to the show’s central storyline.
In Season 2, her family adopts an alias and relocates to California in an attempt to escape The Company, a secretive organisation pursuing people with special abilities. During this period, Claire falls in love with West Rosen, who later discovers that he was abducted by his father as a child.
In later seasons, Claire becomes involved in the fight against a government-sanctioned operation led by Nathan Petrelli to round up people with special abilities.
Hayden Panettiere’s portrayal of Claire Bennet became one of the defining performances of Heroes.
Nearly two decades after the character first appeared on television, her performance remains fondly remembered by fans who watched the series during its hugely popular run.
Her death marks the loss of an actress who made an unforgettable impression on a generation of television viewers.
What are your favourite memories of the character?