Actress Hayden Panettiere, whose work on Heroes, Nashville, and the Scream franchise made her one of the most recognizable television stars of her generation, has died at age 36.

Panettiere’s representative confirmed the actress’s death on Sunday. The cause of death and specific circumstances remain undisclosed.

Her representative described Panettiere as an “incredible light” who brought immense love and joy to those who knew her and millions of viewers worldwide.

The news came as a shock given Panettiere’s long history in public life. She began appearing in commercials before her first birthday, transitioned into daytime television as a child, and built a career spanning drama, comedy, voice acting, and film.

For countless viewers, she will forever be remembered as Claire Bennet, the resilient cheerleader at the heart of NBC’s Heroes. The role propelled her to international stardom and made her face synonymous with one of television’s most iconic shows of the 2000s.

Panettiere later starred as Juliette Barnes, a country singer in ABC’s Nashville, where she infused the character with depth and vulnerability that helped sustain the series for six seasons. She also returned to film as Kirby Reed in Scream VI, more than a decade after first portraying the role in Scream 4.

Panettiere was known for her candid discussions about aspects of life that did not fit into traditional Hollywood success stories. She openly addressed alcoholism, postpartum depression, treatment, and the challenges of rebuilding her life.

In a July interview, Panettiere discussed the difficult decision to allow her daughter Kaya to live with her father, former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya had resided with her father since 2018, and Panettiere stated she chose not to escalate the matter into a public custody battle.

She emphasized efforts to visit her daughter regularly and expressed gratitude for their relationship. Panettiere also detailed experiencing postpartum depression and addiction following a traumatic delivery that required seven blood transfusions.

Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, was published earlier this year. Using the book and related interviews, she candidly addressed topics including addiction, abuse, motherhood, grief, and recovery.

Panettiere had been an active supporter of Ukraine, where her daughter previously lived. In a 2022 interview, she described establishing Hoplon International to provide protective gear and medical supplies to individuals on the front lines following Russia’s invasion.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya. She recently experienced the loss of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, in 2023—a tragedy that profoundly impacted her life.

At 36, Panettiere leaves behind an extraordinary body of work and a generation of viewers who watched her journey from childhood to stardom on screen. Her roles remain unforgettable. The authenticity she demonstrated about the challenges faced when cameras were off may prove as enduring as her legacy.