The curse of Heroes: Cast of Noughties drama has been blighted by 'toxic' workplace allegations, financial woes and legal wranglings - as star Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36

It was a show that exploded into a massive pop-culture phenomenon upon its 2006 debut.

Heroes appeared on the box for four seasons, taking home several major awards, including a Television Critics Association Award for Programme of the Year, a BAFTA TV Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for its stunt ensemble.

The series, which aired 77 episodes, told the stories of ordinary people who discover that they have superhuman abilities. 

While many of the cast turned into breakout stars and household names, some have endured considerable struggles, including health battles, 'toxic' workplace allegations, financial woes and legal wranglings.

Last Sunday, one of the show's stars Hayden Panettiere tragically passed away at the age of 36.

She was found unresponsive in cardiac arrest after a suspected drug overdose at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina.

Here, the Daily Mail delves into the curse of Heroes and the beloved stars who have struggled, or lost their lives, since leaving the show.

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden played Claire Bennet and was the show's definitive breakout star at 17 years old.

However, after leaving the show, she faced her own personal struggles with addiction.

Following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014, whom she shares with Wladimir Klitschko, the star struggled with postpartum depression.

During an appearance on Live With Kelly And Michael, she said: 'It's something a lot of women experience. When [you're told] about postpartum depression you think it's "I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child."

'I've never, ever had those feelings.

'Some women do. But you don't realise how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on.

'It's something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they're not alone, and that it does heal.'

After filming for Nashville wrapped up, she decided to take a break from acting after reaching rock bottom.

In 2018, she relinquished full custody of her daughter to her ex Wladimir, as she was battling severe postpartum depression, anxiety and a deep struggle with alcohol and opioid addiction. 

Hayden was eventually hospitalised for jaundice and told by doctors that her 'liver was going to give out'.

Eventually, she made the decision to go to rehab for eight months.

After her relationship ended with Wladimir, she then began dating Brian Hickerson, after reportedly meeting through mutual friends.

But in May 2019, Brian was arrested for Domestic Violence after an altercation at the couple's home.

Things got ugly between the pair after they came home following a night of drinking in Hollywood and got into a blow-up fight, according to insiders who spoke to TMZ.

Police visited the residence around 2am, when they noticed 'redness and marks' on the Nashville actress's body.

After determining there was indeed a fight, authorities took Brian into custody.

Brian, an aspiring actor, was booked on felony domestic violence and was out of $50,000 bond.

Back in November, a source told Us Weekly that 'the couple party a lot together and it's not a healthy situation, but none of the people close to her really know what to do. She doesn't listen to anyone.'

'They are deeply concerned,' another source close to Hayden told Radar Online.

Speaking of her parents and pals, the source continued: 'They do not approve. They are hoping that this is something that she is going to evolve from.'

Brian was charged with domestic violence in May of 2019, with Hayden receiving a protective order in the case – as the charges were dropped.

The couple split after a domestic violence incident in February 2020, and five months later, Brian was charged with eight counts of domestic violence and assault.

Brian was in jail for 13 days in connection with the arrest.

After his arrest, Hayden put out a statement saying she hoped she could serve as an example for others in a similar situation.

Following the interview, the pair were seen in LA, but Brian confirmed that they are 'just friends' and 'absolutely not' together any more.

In 2023, Hayden was hit with more bad news when her brother Jansen died unexpectedly at the age of 28.

Days after learning of her only sibling's death, the actress recalled how she felt like she had lost 'half my soul'.

She told PEOPLE: 'When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul... I will always be heartbroken about [him], I will never be able to get over it.

'No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss.'

Back in May, Hayden said she was hopeful for the future in one of the last interviews before her death.

During an appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, the actress spoke about moving forward as she promoted her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

'I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,' she said. 'I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.'

On August 16, it was announced that the star, who would have turned 37 on August 21, was found 'unresponsive' by officers and paramedics in an apartment block in South Carolina.

She was later pronounced dead at the scene following a suspected overdose.

However, it is still unconfirmed whether narcotics contributed to her death, as the coroner awaits toxicology results. 

Milo Ventimiglia

Milo played Peter Petrelli and achieved global recognition for playing the empathy-driven hero.

However, after the series wrapped up, the star struggled to find work for an entire year.

Facing a dry spell in his early 30s, he considered quitting Hollywood, cashing out and moving to Italy to work on a farm.

'I've had moments where I've had to pick myself up, probably in my early 30s, I couldn't get hired in town,' he told Variety.

He continued: 'I was really having to re-evaluate what I was going to be doing because, you know, it's a profession.

'You need to feed yourself and clothe yourself and have a roof over your head. I was starting to see those things minimise.'

Thankfully, his career picked back up, and he reached new heights with This Is Us in 2016.

But in 2025, tragedy struck for Milo and his wife, Jarah Mariano, as they sadly lost their Malibu home in the devastating LA wildfires.

They safely evacuated after the Palisades Fire hit their neighbourhood, watching on security cameras before turning them off to accept the loss.

He knew his house was gone, but to stand there in person, he said it felt 'heavy'.

'You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not,' the Gilmore Girls alum explained.

'And then you see your neighbours' houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks,' he continued.

Ali Larter

Ali played multiple characters during her time on Heroes, including Niki and her twin Tracy Sanders.

She went on to land roles in Resident Evil: Afterlife and the TV series Legends, Pitch and Landman. 

However, the actress found herself at the center of the behind-the-scenes controversy regarding her co-star Leonard Roberts's departure from Heroes.

Following his departure, he published a high-profile open letter exposing intense backstage friction and systemic racism on set.

He also explicitly named Ali as a primary factor in his early exit from the show.

Leonard detailed his relationship with Ali, saying: 'The script suggested DL and Niki had a volatile relationship – and it wasn't long before art was imitating life, with me on the receiving end of pushback from my co-star regarding the playing of a particularly tense scene.'

He went on to describe the filming of a bedroom scene with Ali, saying that his co-star 'took umbrage with the level of intimacy being suggested between our characters' and that he was 'instantly aware of the tension on the set'.

Leonard wrote that he was told his character would be returning for season two, but shortly before production began, he said he received a voicemail message from Heroes creator and showrunner Tim Kring stating that due to 'the Ali Larter situation', DL would be killed when the show returned.

Show creator Tim responded to Leonard's account by saying that he acknowledges a 'lack of diversity' among the Heroes staff and adding that he remembers the actor 'fondly'.

'Diversity, interconnectivity and inclusivity were groundbreaking hallmarks of Heroes,' he said. 'So too was the huge, diverse cast that continually rotated off and onto the show, with none ever being written off based on their race.

'Looking back now, 14 years later, given the very different lens that I view the world through today, I acknowledge that a lack of diversity at the upper levels of the staff may have contributed to Leonard experiencing the lack of sensitivity that he describes.

'I have been committed to improving upon this issue with every project I pursue. I remember Leonard fondly and wish him well.'

Ali also said that she is 'deeply saddened' by Leonard's allegations that he experienced tension while working with her on the show. 

She responded: 'I am deeply saddened to hear about Leonard Roberts's experience on Heroes and I am heartbroken reading his perception of our relationship, which absolutely doesn't match my memory nor experience on the show. 

'I respect Leonard as an artist and I applaud him or anyone using their voice and platform. 

'I am truly sorry for any role I may have played in his painful experience during that time and I wish him and his family the very best.'

Adrian Pasdar 

Adrian played Nathan Petrelli on Heroes and went on to roles in The Lying Game, S.H.I.E.l.D and Supergirl.

But just as Heroes was wrapping up, he went through a highly publicised, messy divorce from Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines. 

The legal battle lasted years, deeply impacting his personal life and finances.

He wanted to make it clear that she was the breadwinner during the marriage as she paid for their homes while he only picked up restaurant tabs.

The TV star also argued that he put his acting career on hold to take care of the kids.

Meanwhile, Natalie said that he was trying to 'drag out' the divorce and force her to spend a 'ton of money and time' on the split, according to the site.

As for the prenup, Adrian agreed in 2000 not to receive spousal support, but then changed his mind to say it was 'unconscionable'.

In December 2019, the pair managed to reach a private financial settlement, after a bitter two-year legal battle. 

Greg Grunberg

Greg played Matt Parkman on the hit show and continued acting after the series finished.

Away from the screen, he has faced personal health and family struggles.

His oldest son, Jake, was diagnosed with severe epilepsy at the age of seven after initially experiencing brief staring spells. 

Greg channeled the personal hardship into community support by co-founding initiatives and hosting projects like the Talk About It! epilepsy awareness network and digital caregiver series to support families dealing with rare neurological disorders.

Elsewhere, the actor developed alopecia, which he believed was triggered or brought to presentation by a major knee replacement surgery. 

He said in an social media clip: 'I think it shocked the alopecia into, you know, actually presenting itself. I think I probably had it dormant in my body for a long time.'

The actor added that he also has Hashimoto's disease, a condition which causes hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. 

Thinning hair is a common symptom of the disease.

'What I've learned in this immediate, you know, just doing the googling and the searching and going on all these chat groups and everything, is millions of people have this,' Grunberg continued. 'And I look good! I mean, I'm lucky, all right? I look good.'