Kingdom Hearts Kairi Actress Hayden Panettiere Has Passed Away
Kingdom Hearts and Until Dawn actress Hayden Panettiere has passed away at 36. The news was confirmed by ABC late on August 16, with the cause of death yet to be determined.
"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, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement. He asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
Hayden Panettiere Passes Aged 36
On-screen, Panettiere was perhaps best known for her role as Claire Bennet in the 2006 TV show Heroes. She also held roles in Scream 6, Nashville, and Ally McBeal.
Alongside her on-screen and stage roles, Panettiere appeared in a handful of video games, providing the voice for Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series and facial capture and voice recordings for Samantha Giddings in Until Dawn.
ABC reports that in her memoir released in May, Panettiere offers a "rare and intimate glimpse into her life behind closed doors, opening up about postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, trauma, domestic abuse, and loss," adding that in a 2022 interview with Good Morning America, she said, "I didn't know where the alcoholism was ending and the postpartum was beginning."
Panettiere's passing spells a dark end to an exciting weekend for Kingdom Hearts fans. During D23, Kingdom Hearts 4 revealed tons of new details, including a bumper new trailer,a look at a new world, and a confirmed 2027 release date. The community has begun to mourn her passing.
The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley was one of the first to share his thoughts, saying, "What a sad end to such a beautiful Kingdom Hearts weekend. Actress Hayden Panettiere, the voice of Kairi, has passed away at age 36. RIP."
Twitter user afrokami shared a montage of Kairi's Kingdom Hearts scenes with the caption, "Hayden Panettiere, you will never ever be forgotten." The sadness was shared by many other social media users.
This is a developing story, and we will update it as more information comes to light.