"Nashville" and "Heroes" Star Hayden Panettiere Passes Away at 36

American actress Hayden Panettiere, widely known for her starring roles in the television series "Nashville" and "Heroes," has passed away at the age of 36.

"It is with profound sorrow that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," said her father, Skip Panettiere, in an official statement to ABC News. "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone who knew her, as well as to millions of viewers on screen."

Her father concluded the statement by asking for privacy for the family as loved ones try to cope with this irreplaceable loss.

The cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that police responded to an incident involving the actress, and an investigation is currently underway. According to insiders, shortly before the tragedy, Panettiere had been complaining of back pain. Additionally, her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, had flown in to see her from Los Angeles just a day before her passing.

The tragedy comes just months after the actress's memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, became a New York Times bestseller. In the book and in recent interviews, Panettiere spoke candidly about the severe trials in her life:

• The actress shared her struggles with severe postpartum depression in 2018 and the difficulties brought on by early fame.

• She defended her decision to transfer custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her father—former boxing champion and ex-Mayor of Kyiv Wladimir Klitschko—emphasizing that she desperately needed help, but never "abandoned" her child.

• During the promotional campaign for her book in May, the actress publicly came out as bisexual for the first time, noting that she had hidden this part of her life for a long time due to constant pressure from the press and paparazzi.