American actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36

Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in ‘Heroes and Kingdom Hearts’, died at the young age of 36.

The news of her death was confirmed by her father in a statement to ABC News. But details of her death have yet to be disclosed, though TMZ noted that there is an ‘open investigation’ looking into the matter. 

"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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," her father said.

Born in 1989, Panettiere made her debut on television screen when she was only 11 months old. She would go on to have many notable roles and movies, including Heroes, Nashville, Scream 4, and voiced Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Panettiere also wrote a memoir titled, This is Me: A Reckoning. Released in May, the book goes into her troubled life, the pressure of being a child actress, her relationship with her mother, who managed her early career, and her experiences with addiction and her recovery.