‘Heroes’ Creator Praises ‘Extraordinary’ Hayden Panettiere Following Tragic Death

"Heroes" creator Tim Kring remembered Hayden Panettiere in a new interview, honoring the show's 20th anniversary. The ‘Heroes’ Creator Praises ‘Extraordinary’ Hayden Panettiere Following Tragic Death first appeared on The Blast

Hayden Panettiere is still living in the hearts of those she touched, even weeks after her death. In a new interview, “Heroes” creator Tim Kring opened up about how “extraordinary” a person and actress the late Panettiere was, calling her casting in the 2006 sci-fi TV show the perfect fit.

‘Heroes’ Creator Tim Kring Details How Hayden Panettiere Booked The Role

“Heroes” premiered in September 2006, and Panettiere played the spunky Claire Bennet. She was a popular cheerleader with supernatural powers.

In an Entertainment Weekly interview honoring the show’s 20th anniversary, creator Tim Kring detailed how Panettiere was chosen for the role, revealing the budget wasn’t big, so they had to settle on actors who “felt like they were ordinary people.”

“Yes, they might be a little better looking than you or me, but I was going for that relatability of the everyman quality,” he said, adding that Panettiere’s character was the “cheerleader who you had a crush on, not the one that everybody else had the crush on.”

Finding The Right Actress For The Role Didn’t Take Much Searching

According to Kring, finding the perfect fit for the role wasn’t hard. He explained that the search was pretty simple, adding that once they saw Panettiere, it was over.

Kring said a combination of Panettiere’s characteristics made her right for the series, pointing to her calm demeanor and acting ability.

“First of all, she was an extraordinary actress,” Kring said. “She just embodied that girl-next-door quality, and then her range was exceptional.”

Panettiere’s audition for the role was so stellar that Kring said he forgot who else may have even been in mind to portray the character.

“It was just pure talent that walked in the door,” he stated. “There’s nobody in my head that we saw other than her. For some of the other parts, I can remember other actors from casting, but no, she was it.”

More About Hayden Panettiere On ‘Heroes’

“Heroes” ran from 2006 to 2010 and aired 78 episodes. The pilot episode brought in over 14 million viewers, making it a ratings success.

And while Panettiere was grateful to land the role, the actress wrote in her book, “A Reckoning,” that she was struggling with substance abuse behind the scenes.

“I grew up on that set, and I was so lucky to have those people around me,” she said about her time on the show. “Outside of work, I was dealing with paparazzi for the first time and my freedom being taken away, basically overnight. The cast of “Heroes” really kept me grounded at a very pivotal time in my life. I’m not saying I didn’t do some bad things — I definitely was a rebel — but they saved me from getting sucked into all sorts of trouble.”

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Panettiere Died In August 2026

According to a previous report from The Blast, Panettiere died at a South Carolina home in August 2026. Several people spoke out about the actress after learning of the loss, including her mother and father, as well as other esteemed performers, including Viola Davis.

“I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes. Your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. You will be remembered. Rest well, Hayden. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name,” the “How to Get Away with Murder” actress said.

Child Star Speaks Out After Panettiere’s Death

Before her death, Panettiere opened up about being subject to alleged mistreatment as a child star. In her book, she claimed that she was “groomed” to be an actress at a young age. At another point, Panettiere wrote about a high-powered Hollywood figure who tried to assault her at 18.

After her death, “Kim Possible” actress Christy Carlson Romano spoke about Panettiere’s experience and said child stars need more protection. “The former child actor exists in a category the world does not know how to hold,” she said. “We are children when the public wants to feel protective of us, professionals when the industry wants to profit from us, and spoiled celebrities when we eventually show symptoms of having been both.”

The ‘Heroes’ Creator Praises ‘Extraordinary’ Hayden Panettiere Following Tragic Death first appeared on The Blast