Actress Hayden Panettiere, ex of Wladimir Klitschko, dies at 36

"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic death of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone who knew her, and to the millions who saw her on the big screen."

With these words, Hayden Panettiere's father announced the sudden death of his 36-year-old daughter on ABC.

Her father has asked for privacy, saying the family needs time to process this unimaginable loss.

The actress was known not only in the United States but also internationally from numerous successful American series. From 2006, Hayden Panettiere, then just 17 years old, played the role of Claire Bennet in "Heroes". From 2012 to 2018 she appeared alongside Connie Britton in ABC's musical drama "Nashville" as Juliette Barnes.

The daughter of an actress and a firefighter, she was born in Palisades in the US state of New York and also appeared in "Remember the Titans" and, in 2011, in "Scream 4".

Her brother Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor, died in 2013 at the age of 28.

Hayden Panettiere leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter. After Kaya's birth, her mother suffered from postnatal depression and later, according to US magazine People, from alcohol and prescription drug addiction. The child's father, who had full custody, is the now 50-year-old former professional boxer and heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko. He is the brother of the mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, and is also committed to supporting Ukraine.

Twelve years after separating from his first wife Alexandra, the Ukrainian, who lived in Hamburg for many years, met the actress Hayden in 2010, who was 14 years younger. However, according to Munich daily Abendzeitung, the two were initially together for only 16 months. They found their way back to each other in 2013, became engaged and in 2014 their daughter Kaya was born.

In 2017, Wladimir Klitschko, also for the sake of his family, at the age of 41 ended his boxing career.