Home / Arts and Entertainment / Hayden Panettiere, 36, Dies; Star Revealed Bisexuality Months Prior
Hayden Panettiere, 36, Dies; Star Revealed Bisexuality Months Prior
17 Aug
Summary
- Actress Hayden Panettiere died at 36, cause under investigation.
- Panettiere revealed her bisexuality in a memoir just months earlier.
- She struggled with postpartum depression and addiction issues.
Actress Hayden Panettiere, aged 36, passed away on August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. The cause and manner of her death are currently unknown, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding her passing. Her father announced her death, and her publicist confirmed an ongoing police investigation.
In a significant personal revelation just three months prior to her death, Panettiere shared her bisexuality in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." She spoke of past fears and societal pressures that prevented her from disclosing this aspect of her identity earlier, expressing regret for not feeling comfortable to share it until age 36.
Panettiere also discussed her past struggles with postpartum depression and addiction. These challenges led her to make the difficult decision in 2018 to relinquish custody of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former partner Wladimir Klitschko. The actress began her career as a child artist, influenced by her mother's ambition.
