Hayden Panettiere, known to gamers for her roles in Until Dawn and Kingdom Hearts, has passed away at the age of 36. The actress’s death was confirmed by her representative, with her father, Skip Panettiere, sharing a statement mourning her loss.
Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, in South Carolina. Authorities are currently investigating her death, and no cause of death has been officially announced. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
For many PlayStation players, Panettiere will be remembered as Samantha “Sam” Giddings, one of the central characters in Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn. Originally released for PS4 in 2015, the horror title placed players in control of a group of characters attempting to survive a deadly night in the mountains. Panettiere’s performance as Sam became one of the most recognizable parts of the game, and she later reprised the role for the game’s 2024 PS5 and PC remake.
Panettiere also had a connection to Kingdom Hearts, providing the English voice of Kairi in the first two mainline games. Her work helped bring the character to life for English-speaking players when the original Kingdom Hearts released on PlayStation 2 in 2002.
Outside of gaming, Panettiere became widely known for her television roles. She rose to international fame as Claire Bennet in Heroes and later starred as Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance. Her film credits also included Remember the Titans, Scream 4, and Scream VI.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child and continued working across television, film, and video games for more than three decades. Her most recent film role was in the 2026 psychological thriller Sleepwalker. Earlier this year, she also published her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
Following the news of her passing, tributes began appearing from colleagues and fellow actors. Her father described Panettiere as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought joy to the people around her and to the millions who watched her work. He also asked for privacy as the family processes the loss.
Panettiere leaves behind a career that touched television, cinema, and gaming, with her performances in Until Dawn and Kingdom Hearts giving her a lasting place among video game fans.
