LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- American actress Hayden Panettiere, who rose to fame through ‘Heroes and Nashville’, has died at the age of 36.
Her death was announced by her father, Skip Panettiere, who expressed “profound sadness” over the loss of his daughter.
In a statement, Skip described the actress as “an incredible light and a force of nature,” adding that she brought “immeasurable love and joy” to the people around her as well as millions of fans who watched her work.
He also appealed to the public to give the family privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
Panettiere entered Hollywood as a child star, beginning her career at just four years old. She appeared on the American soap opera One Life to Live, marking the start of a career that would later span television and film.
She went on to appear in movies such as Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and the Scream franchise.
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However, her major breakthrough came with the science fiction series Heroes, where she played cheerleader Claire Bennet.
She later took on another major role as country-pop singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, with her performance earning her consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 and 2014.
Panettiere also played Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise, appearing in Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Following news of her death, tributes began pouring in from fans, fellow actors, musicians and industry organizations.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
The cause of death had not been confirmed in the report, while her family continues to mourn the actress and mother remembered for her memorable performances on screen.
