Actress Hayden Panettiere has passed away at the age of 36 on Sunday, according to a statement released by her family to ABC News. While an investigation into her death is currently ongoing, initial reports indicate that no foul play is suspected.
Beyond her prominent live-action roles—including Claire Bennet in the television series Heroes, Kirby Reed in the Scream film franchise, and Juliette Barnes in Nashville—Panettiere left an indelible mark on the gaming community. She famously voiced the character Kairi in Square Enix's critically acclaimed Kingdom Hearts franchise, spanning from the original game through Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. She also provided the voice for Xion in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
In addition to her voice work in anime-styled RPGs, Panettiere delivered an unforgettable performance as Samantha "Sam" Giddings in the survival horror game Until Dawn, contributing her voice as well as full motion and facial capture for the character.
Panettiere began her prolific acting career as a child in 1994, appearing in the ABC soap opera One Life to Live before building an extensive resume across film and television. She was also a talented singer, releasing multiple tracks throughout her career, notably featured on the Nashville television series soundtrack.
