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Hayden Panettiere, the actress beloved by millions for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at 36, TMZ reported on Sunday, August 16.
According to sources with direct knowledge, Hayden and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson had flown from Los Angeles to the south the day before her passing. Brian’s family has been made aware of her death.
A source close to Hayden also told TMZ that she had been experiencing back pain for roughly the past year. Law enforcement sources confirmed that police responded to an incident involving the actress on Sunday and that an investigation is currently open.
Her representative released a statement to ABC News, saying:
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Panettiere first captured the world’s attention as a child actress, earning an early career boost when she appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans, playing Sheryl Yoast. That role signalled what was to come from the young Hollywood talent.
She became a household name playing cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes, a role that earned her an enduring place in pop culture. She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on the hit drama Nashville, earning multiple award nominations for her portrayal. Her screen credits also included the Scream franchise, appearing in both Scream 4 and Scream VI, as well as lending her voice to the video game Until Dawn.
Away from the screen, Hayden was increasingly open about deeply personal chapters of her life, including her childhood fame, her experiences with motherhood, her mental health journey, and the heartbreaking loss of her younger brother Jansen Panettiere. She addressed all of these in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
News of Hayden’s passing sent shockwaves across social media, with fans sharing their grief and memories. @Jennifer Bonneau wrote:
@Amber Haines commented:
@Brennan Reed posted:
Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that reality TV star Tyler Duckworth, a 2-time The Challenge Champion, died at the age of 44.
Tyler Duckworth’s mother, Joni, confirmed her son’s passing on Facebook on Friday, August 14, saying the cause of death has yet to be determined.
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Godwin Nii Armah Okine
Godwin Nii Armah Okine joined YEN.com.gh in May 2025 and is head of the Entertainment Desk. He graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies in 2014 and has over a decade of experience in digital journalism. He worked at GhanaCelebrities.com between 2014 and 2025 as an Entertainment and later, Managing Editor. Godwin covered the 2014 Africa Youth Games in Gaborone for the African Olympic Committee and the International Sports Press Association. Avance Media named him the No.2 blogger in Ghana in 2020. Contact godwnii-armah.okine@yen.com.gh
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