Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, described her as an incredible light who brought love and joy to her family, friends, and millions of fans.

Panettiere began acting as a child and landed her first television role on the soap opera One Life to Live at just four years old.

She later became widely known for playing a cheerleader with superpowers on Heroes and appeared in films including Remember the Titans and Raising Helen, the BBC has reported.

No cause of death has been confirmed, and her family has asked for privacy as they mourn her loss.