The actress, born in 1989, was just days away from turning 37.
Her father, Alan Skip Panettiere, shared the tragic news and described his daughter as a person full of light and energy. The family has requested privacy during these difficult times. The cause of death has not been officially confirmed yet.
Panettiere rose to international fame in 2006 with 'Heroes', where she portrayed Claire Bennet, a young woman with regenerative powers. Her role made her one of the most popular actresses on American television.
She later starred in 'Nashville', playing country singer Juliette Barnes. The series also allowed her to showcase her musical talent and earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
Her career began in childhood. In 1998, she voiced Dot, the little ant princess, in Pixar's film 'A Bug's Life'. She also appeared in several episodes of 'Malcolm in the Middle' and featured in movies like 'Remember the Titans', 'Ice Princess', 'Scream 4', and 'Scream VI'.
Additionally, Panettiere lent her voice to Kairi in the video game series 'Kingdom Hearts' and starred in 'Until Dawn'.
In recent years, she openly discussed the challenges of growing up in the spotlight and her personal struggles. Her death marks another tragedy for her family, who had already lost her brother Jansen in 2023.