On July 27, the actress’ final social media post featured a photo alongside a friend

NEED TO KNOW

• Panettiere’s rep confirmed her death at age 36 to PEOPLE, calling her “an incredible light and a force of nature”
• She had recently celebrated her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning reaching No. 4 on the New York Times bestseller list
• Her memoir detailed her struggles with alcoholism, depression, and the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry

Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and Remember the Titans, died suddenly on Sunday at age 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” a rep for Panettiere confirmed to PEOPLE. “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.”

Over the past few months Panettiere had been active on social media, sharing photos and videos from her book tour promoting her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was published May 19.

On July 27, she shared her final Instagram post, smiling alongside photographer Randall Slavin.

“Good times and good friends @randallslavin ✨,” Panettiere captioned the Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Slavin commented on the post at the time writing, “Love this. Good times babe. Xxx.”

After years of struggles, Panettiere had returned to the spotlight ahead of her death, marking her book’s success reaching No. 4 on the best-seller list. “Ahhhh!!! @newyorktimes bestseller list!!! What a wild ride this has been. Thank you ALL for all the support! 🙌🏻,” she wrote on May 27.

Panettiere’s memoir covered the highs and lows of her life, from her childhood as a working actress to the struggles she faced behind the camera, including grappling with alcoholism, depression, abusive relationships and the intense pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry.

When she first teased her memoir in 2024, she told PEOPLE, “You may laugh a little, cry a little, but most importantly, you’ll hopefully finish it feeling inspired. I’ve grown so much from my experiences. I hope that this opportunity to further elaborate on that journey may provide a little comfort for those who have faced similar challenges. I’m truly grateful for every lesson, and for the woman I have become today.”

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