spent most of her life in front of a camera. The actor, who died Sunday at age 36, made her debut in a toy commercial when she was just 11 months old. From her soap opera beginnings and early breakout roles holding her own opposite acting legends, Panettiere had an that would lead to starring roles on the small and big screens.
Here are some of her most memorable films and television shows, and where to stream them.
鈥淎 Bug鈥檚 Life鈥� (1998)
She was already a veteran of soaps (she got her first role at age 4, playing Sarah Roberts on 鈥淥ne Life to Live鈥�) and commercials when she was selected to voice Princess Dot in the Pixar movie. Co-director and writer Andrew Stanton said he wanted to include a little girl because of his newborn daughter.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
鈥淩emember the Titans鈥� (2000)
Playing the football-loving, wise-beyond-her-years Sheryl Yoast was a breakthrough moment for Panettiere, who was 10 at the time of filming but playing 鈥渘ine and a half, thank you very much,鈥� as she so memorably informed Denzel Washington鈥檚 Coach Boone. It was her absolute favorite movie to film, she told ET in 2023. 鈥淲hat an incredible time in my life 鈥� I was surrounded by the cutest boys. Kate Bosworth was like my big sister,鈥� she said in the interview. 鈥淚f I had wished to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to 鈥楻emember the Titans.鈥欌��
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
鈥淚ce Princess鈥� (2005)
A teen sports trifle that鈥檚 now bonded in tragedy after the deaths of both and Panettiere, who played Casey Carlyle鈥檚 (Trachtenberg) fellow junior ice skater Gennifer 鈥淕en鈥� Harwood and daughter of Kim Cattrall鈥檚 coach character. Panettiere did much of her own skating in the film.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
鈥淏ring It On: All or Nothing鈥� (2006)
It might not be a particularly good movie, or her only cheerleader role of the year, but the third 鈥淏ring It On,鈥� co-starring , has become a nostalgic millennial classic. Rihanna also had a cameo as herself, as a cheerleading competition judge.
鈥淚 loved the passion that people had for 鈥楤ring It On.鈥� When fans would come up who loved that movie, they would freak out 鈥� have a physical, visceral reaction to me that I had never seen before,鈥� Panettiere told Entertainment Weekly this year.
WHERE TO WATCH: Available to rent on various platforms.
鈥淗eroes鈥� (2006-2010)
鈥淪ave the cheerleader, save the world.鈥� Panettiere was the indestructible Claire Bennet at the heart of the popular sci-fi series, the first season of which regularly drew over 14 million viewers.
鈥淚 think 鈥楬eroes鈥� is really hot because it’s just a really great combination of everything that people love,鈥� she told The Associated Press in 2008. 鈥淭hey love reality, they love sci-fi and then things like 鈥榅-Men鈥� where they get to, you know, dream of something bigger. And at the core of it are these human stories that people just can relate to.鈥�
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
鈥淚 Love You, Beth Cooper鈥� (2009)
Chris Columbus directed this teen rom-com about a nerd (Paul Rust) and the popular girl of his dreams. Yes, her character here was a cheerleader as well.
WHERE TO WATCH: Available to rent on various platforms.
鈥淭he Cove鈥� (2009)
When she was 18 years old, Panettiere, who advocated for whale and dolphin safety as a spokesperson for The Whaleman Foundation and creator of the 鈥淪ave the Whales, Again!鈥� campaign, went to Taiji, Japan, to protest and disrupt the dolphin hunting with a group of activists on paddleboards. A tense encounter with the men on the boats was featured prominently in the Oscar-winning documentary 鈥淭he Cove.鈥� Weeks after the film won, she returned to Taiji to try to meet with officials about their whaling practices.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Tubi, Fandango and Pluto TV.
鈥淣ashville鈥� (2012-2018)
Playing rising country superstar Juliette Barnes was perhaps her defining role, but she wasn’t even originally envisioned as the series’ main star. Connie Britton’s Rayna was.
鈥淯nfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my billing had gone way up. I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie鈥檚 heels,鈥� she wrote in her memoir. 鈥淚 was deeply uncomfortable with this development.鈥�
On Jay Shetty’s podcast this year, she spoke about how closely Juliette’s trials resembled her own. 鈥淚 didn’t know where Juliette began and Hayden ended,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn’t even realize I was becoming her constantly, and I wasn’t able to take care of myself.鈥�
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
鈥淪cream VI鈥� (2023)
Fans immediately took to Panettiere鈥檚 horror movie loving character Kirby Reed in the otherwise much-derided 鈥淪cream 4,鈥� which left her fate ambiguous. In the 2022 鈥淪cream,鈥� it was revealed that she was still alive. Panettiere played a part in advocating for her return in 鈥淪cream VI,鈥� which became a box office hit.
鈥淚t was thrilling that people fell in love with Kirby,鈥� Panettiere told ET in 2023. 鈥淚 loved playing Kirby, so I鈥檓 glad they love her as much as I did.鈥�
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
