Long before superheroes dominated seemingly every corner of pop culture, Hayden Panettiere helped make a cheerleader with an unusual secret one of television's most recognizable characters.
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Panettiere, who died Sunday at age 36, starred as Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes," the hit science-fiction drama that debuted in 2006.
Claire was a Texas high school cheerleader who discovered she possessed an extraordinary ability: Her body could regenerate from virtually any injury.
Falls, burns and broken bones couldn't kill her. Even seemingly fatal injuries could be reversed, making Claire's powers central to the show's story.
Then came the phrase that helped turn "Heroes" into a phenomenon.
"Save the cheerleader, save the world."
The line became the driving force behind the show's first season, as the other characters learned that protecting Claire was connected to preventing a catastrophic explosion in New York City.
It also became one of television's defining catchphrases of the era.
Panettiere was only 17 when "Heroes" premiered and remained with the series throughout its four-season run, which ended in 2010.
Claire's story evolved along with the show. She went from hiding her abilities and desperately trying to live a normal teenage life to ultimately deciding the world deserved to know that people with extraordinary powers existed.
In the original series finale, Claire climbed to the top of a Ferris wheel with television cameras watching.
"My name is Claire Bennet, and that was attempt number... I guess I've kind of lost count," she said before jumping.
She hit the ground, healed and stood back up. The cheerleader had finally saved the world by showing it who she really was.
