Tributes have been paid to actress Hayden Panettiere, star of the US TV shows Heroes and Nashville, following her death at the age of 36.

In a statement, her father Skip Panettiere said: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

"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."

The details surrounding her death were not immediately available, but police in Greenville, South Carolina, said a "preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances".

In a statement, Greenville Police Department said they responded to a report of an unresponsive female at 13:51 local time on Sunday.

"Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene."

They added: "An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release."

The case is now under investigation by the police in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner's Office, they said.

The actress played a cheerleader with superpowers in Heroes and an up-and-coming country singer in Nashville. Earlier as a child star, she had other memorable roles including in the films Remember the Titans and Raising Helen.

Panettiere's father has asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss".

'She was a muse'

Bryan Fuller, a writer and producer who worked on Heroes wrote on Monday that Panettiere had been "more than an actress" to him, "she was a muse".

"Wise beyond her years and already saddled with so much of a life, she left an indelible mark on me as a writer and a storyteller. Incredibly sad news," he posted on Instagram.

Oscar winner Viola Davis, who featured alongside Panettiere in 2016 courtroom drama film Custody, shared a tribute to her former co-star on Instagram.

She said: "What an amazing talent you were…. so gifted."

Davis's husband Julius Tennon also appeared in the film with them, playing a court officer, and she noted how "Julius and I loved working with you... an old, wise soul with such a deep heart".

Davis added: "I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. I saw this beautiful phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy."

Panettiere's long-time friend and One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy-Lenz, who had known her since she was a child actress, said she was "crushed" by her death.

Sharing photos of them together online, she wrote: "I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals.

"Long, unruly curls trailing behind her. She knew her lines and everyone else's. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I'd ever seen on camera. And she'd sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play."

She added: "Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming back to life, wasn't she? It's too young and there's still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I'm sorry for every moment I didn't reach out or check in. This can't be real."

Cruel Intentions actress Selma Blair paid tribute on social media, saying: "I love you. Don't be gone. Please."

Singer Jojo described it as "devastating news". On her Instagram story she wrote: "I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God."

Actors' union Sag-Aftra, of which Panettiere was a longstanding member, said "our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans".

Beginning her career as a child, Panettiere - whose mother, Lesley Vogel, was also an actress - was just four years old when she was cast on the popular US soap opera One Life to Live.

She voiced Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life before gaining wider recognition when she starred alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans.

She later rose to wider fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in cult sci-fi series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010.

Her role as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes in TV series Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.

Success and struggles

Panettiere's career spanned three decades, with roles in other hit shows and films including the Scream horror franchise and romantic comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper.

Her Scream co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram story, writing "rest in peace sweet Hayden", alongside a broken heart emoji.

Fellow Scream films co-star David Arquette wrote: "I love you Hayden."

Earlier this year, Panettiere released a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, recounting the struggles of growing up as a child actor and her experiences with addiction, abuse and later recovery.

In May, Panettiere spoke to the BBC's US partner CBS News about her mother taking her as an "eight-month-old baby into audition rooms".

"It went from there and progressed into 50 commercials by the time I was five... It just never stopped," she said.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya with her ex-partner, Ukrainian former world heavyweight champion boxer, Wladimir Klitschko.

In 2015, after giving birth to her daughter, Panettiere revealed she had entered a treatment facility to help with postpartum depression.

"It's something a lot of women experience," she told US talk show Live With Kelly And Michael in 2015.

"You think it's, 'I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child.' I've never, ever had those feelings. Some women do.

"It's something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they're not alone, and that it does heal."

In her memoir she wrote about her decision to give full custody to her former partner in 2018.

She told podcaster Jay Shetty in May that "the idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking and couldn't be further from the truth".

In 2023, grief struck Panettiere when her brother Jansen died aged 28 from an enlarged heart.

"He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him," she told People magazine the following year. "When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul."

The actress said she "will always be heartbroken about it", adding: "I will never be able to get over it. No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss."

The grief she said also affected her physically. "I just ballooned out," she told People.

In a tribute she posted to him in 2025, she said she prayed that he was in "a beautiful place", adding: "I'll see you again."