Hayden Panettiere‘s Hollywood family is mourning the actress following her death at 36, with former co-stars and friends sharing emotional tributes to the star known for “Heroes,” “Nashville” and the “Scream” franchise.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in South Carolina on August 16 and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said she was found in cardiac arrest, while initial reports indicated there were no signs of foul play. The official cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
Among those remembering her was Viola Davis, who worked with Panettiere in the 2016 film Custody. Davis described the actress as an “old, wise soul” with a deep heart in a tribute shared after her death.
Jeremy Renner also offered a brief message, writing, “Bless you and your family ā¤ļø.”
The tributes have continued to come from across Hollywood, including people who worked alongside Panettiere during different stages of her career. Her connection to the Scream franchise has also brought renewed attention to her role as Kirby Reed, a character that made her a favorite among fans of the horror series.
Panettiere’s death came after a career that began when she was a child. She went on to become widely recognized as Claire Bennet on Heroes and Juliette Barnes on Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her work on the latter.
Her film credits also included Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess and Scream 4. Beyond acting, Panettiere had spoken publicly about difficult periods in her life, including struggles with addiction and postpartum depression.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain an active investigation. An autopsy reportedly found no signs of trauma, but authorities have not yet released a definitive cause of death, with additional testing still pending.
For the colleagues who shared the screen with her, the immediate focus has been less on the unanswered questions and more on remembering the actress they knew ā a performer whose career began in childhood and continued to leave a mark across television and film.
