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| Hayden Panettiere began her career as a child actress on One Life to Live and Guiding Light.. |
Actress Hayden Panettiere, who began her career as a child performer on daytime television before becoming a familiar face in primetime and film, has died at the age of 36. Her representative confirmed her death to ABC News.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, 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—and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
Her father asked for privacy as the family takes time to process the loss. Further details surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately available.
For soap fans, Panettiere’s career began at a remarkably young age. She appeared as a child actor on One Life to Live (as Sarah Roberts) and Guiding Light (as Lizzie Spaulding), gaining early experience in the world of daytime television before moving on to a wide-ranging career in television and film.
Panettiere became internationally recognized for her role as Claire Bennet on NBC’s hit science-fiction drama Heroes. She later starred as Juliette Barnes on ABC’s musical drama Nashville, earning praise for her performances as the ambitious and troubled country music star.
Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4.
Throughout her life, Panettiere was candid about the challenges she faced, including the pressures that came with growing up in the public eye and transitioning from child stardom to adulthood.
In May, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, offering a deeply personal account of her life and career.
Panettiere’s career spanned more than three decades, from daytime television as a child to some of television’s most prominent primetime dramas. She leaves behind a body of work that introduced her to audiences around the world—and a lasting connection to soap opera history through her earliest roles.
