Hayden Panettiere attends the world premiere of Paramount's "Scream VI" at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on March 6, 2023 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images via AFP
(UPDATED) American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the 'Scream" films and "Heroes," passed away on Sunday, media reports said. She was 36.
According to an article published by ABC News on Monday morning, August 17, the sad news was confirmed by the actress' representative.
"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," her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement.
Her family also asked for privacy as they take their time processing their loss.
Details about her death were not immediately given but news outlet TMZ said there was an "open investigation" into the cause.
Born in 1989, Panettiere started her entertainment career as a child star in both television and film.
Shen was known for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit series "Heroes" and as Juliette Barnes on "Nashville," where she earned two Golden Globe nominations.
Apart from the "Scream" films, she also starred in the movies "Remember the Titans," "Raising Helen," and "Ice Princess."
She wrote a memoir titled "This Is Me: A Reckoning" which was released in May. In that book, she wrote of the pressures of being a child star and her experiences of addiction and recovery.
She had also spoken of estrangement from her mother, who managed her career as a child and later criticized her daughter's book. -- With reports from Agence France-Presse