“Hayden was nothing but nice to everyone around her...”

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip, shared in a statement to ABC News. 

“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.”

No cause of death has been confirmed at the time of writing, but Greenville, South Carolina, police said they "responded to a report of an unresponsive female" at around 1:50 pm ET on Sunday (16 August).

In a statement, they said: “Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene." 

The case remains under investigation, though preliminary findings have revealed no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

One fan, who worked on the set of Scream 4, also turned to social media to recall a moment that "will forever stay" with her. 

Kathryn Henzler recalled filming a scene with her twin sister that took place inside a barn.

"It was hot, dark, and buggy the whole night we were shooting," she shared. 

...yet Hayden was nothing but nice to everyone around her, even chatting with background actors and complimenting their acting choices. Super professional, supremely talented, and just a lovely person to be on set with in the not-so-great conditions. Humble, kind, gone too soon.

Born in Palisades, New York, on 21 August 1989, Panettiere was introduced to acting from a young age. The daughter of actress Lesley Vogel and fire department captain Skip Panettiere, she began appearing in commercials at just 11 months old before becoming a familiar face on TV, with roles in One Life to Live and Guiding Light.

Her breakout came with Heroes, where she played cheerleader Claire Bennet, before she took on the role of country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville. The performance brought Panettiere two Golden Globe nominations. 

Away from TV, she appeared in millennial cult classics, including Ice Princess, alongside Michelle Trachtenberg, and Bring It On: All or Nothing.

Panettiere also starred as Kirby Reed in Scream 4 in 2011 and returned to the franchise for Scream VI in 2023.

Earlier this year, Panettiere released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which became a New York Times bestseller. 

In the book, she opened up about growing up in the spotlight and candidly reflected on addiction, postpartum depression, abusive relationships, and the painful experience of losing custody of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.