Hayden Panettiere, known for her work in television, film and video games, has died at the age of 36.
Panettiere remembered by family and colleagues
Panettiere’s death was confirmed in a statement from her father, Skip Panettiere. The family described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought love and happiness to those around her and to the millions who watched her onscreen. They also asked for privacy while grieving the loss.
The cause of death had not been officially confirmed.
Fans and former collaborators shared tributes after the news emerged. Connie Britton, Panettiere’s former Nashville co-star, wrote that Panettiere was “bursting with brilliance” and “shining so bright”, adding: “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.” Britton’s Instagram tribute remains available to read.
Her former Scream colleagues David Arquette, Melissa Barrera and Selma Blair also expressed their grief. The official Kingdom Hearts account posted a tribute, while actor Alyson Stoner shared an emotional message recalling her work with Panettiere and her late brother, Jansen Panettiere.
A career across television, film and games
Panettiere began working very young. She appeared in commercials at 11 months old and joined the cast of the soap opera One Life to Live at four.
Her best-known television roles included Claire Bennet, the superpowered cheerleader in NBC’s Heroes, and Juliette Barnes, an emerging country-music performer in Nashville. Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Scream 4 and Scream 6.
For players, Panettiere was a familiar voice in several major releases. Her credits included Pixar’s A Bug’s Life, the PlayStation title The Mark of Kri and the survival horror game Until Dawn. Her voice work is also part of the wider story covered in RETROCADE’s arcade and gaming news.
She was particularly associated with the Kingdom Hearts series, voicing Kairi and Xion in the original game and returning for Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Stoner later voiced Kairi in Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory. In an emotional Instagram message, Stoner reflected on working with Panettiere and Jansen Panettiere.
Memoir addressed personal struggles
Earlier in 2026, Panettiere released the memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning. The book revisited her Hollywood career and discussed postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, body dysmorphia and domestic abuse.
Her performances remain part of the broader history of screen-to-game voice acting, an area that continues to connect film, television and interactive entertainment. Readers exploring the hardware side of that culture can browse RETROCADE’s Arcade Machine Buying Guide or see the latest arcade videos.
For home players revisiting classic game worlds, RETROCADE also offers arcade machines and space-saving bartop arcades.
Panettiere’s connection to Kingdom Hearts also gives her work a continuing place in gaming history, as the series carries Kairi and Xion across several generations of players.
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