Hayden Panettiere, Known for Until Dawn and Kingdom Hearts, Passes Away at 36

Hayden Panettiere, the talented actor recognized for her work in television, film, and video games like Until Dawn and the Kingdom Hearts series, has tragically passed away at the age of 36.

While specific details about her death remain private, her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the news in a statement.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement expressed. “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.”

Panettiere had an extensive career, beginning as a child star with roles in several Disney projects such as A Bug’s Life and Dinosaur. As she grew, she became well-known for her performances in popular TV shows like Heroes and Nashville. She also made her mark in the Scream franchise, portraying Kirby Reed in three films starting in 2011. Gaming enthusiasts will remember her as the original voice of Kairi in the first two Kingdom Hearts games, a role later taken over by Alyson Stoner. Additionally, she starred in Until Dawn, where she provided both voice and motion capture for the character Sam in the horror game.

In recent months, Panettiere had been actively promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.