Hayden Panettiere Found Dead by Friend at South Carolina Home at 36

GREENVILLE, South Carolina — Actress Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence on Sunday, August 16, and was pronounced dead at the age of 36.

The actress, best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, was discovered by a friend at an apartment complex in Greenville. Emergency responders arrived shortly before 2 p.m. and attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.

911 Call Reportedly Described Cardiac Arrest

Dispatch information released after her death indicated that the emergency call involved a woman suffering apparent cardiac arrest and raised concerns about a possible overdose.

Responders performed CPR and advanced life-support measures, including administering epinephrine. Narcan, a medication commonly used to reverse opioid overdoses, was also reportedly found at the scene.

However, authorities have not officially determined that an overdose caused Panettiere’s death.

An autopsy has been completed, but the official cause and manner of death remain undetermined while toxicology testing is pending. Investigators have reported no obvious signs of trauma and are not currently treating the death as suspicious.

A Friend Discovered the Actress

The circumstances surrounding who contacted emergency services remain unclear.

Panettiere had been staying temporarily in Greenville, where she was reportedly spending time with people close to her.

Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was reportedly in the area around the time of her death. The pair had a complicated history, having previously separated amid domestic-violence allegations before reconnecting in recent years.

Authorities have not accused Hickerson of wrongdoing in connection with Panettiere’s death.

A Career That Began in Childhood

Panettiere began working in entertainment as a child and quickly developed a successful career in television and film.

She became an international star after portraying Claire Bennet on NBC’s Heroes, where her character became one of the show’s most recognizable figures.

She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville, a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Her film credits included Remember the Titans, Bring It On: All or Nothing, Scream 4 and Scream VI.

Panettiere Spoke Openly About Her Struggles

In recent years, Panettiere became increasingly candid about her personal struggles.

She spoke publicly about addiction, postpartum depression, anxiety and the pressures of growing up in Hollywood.

Her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, published earlier this year, offered an intimate account of her experiences in the entertainment industry and the difficult periods of her personal life.

She also discussed her relationship with her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Family Asks for Privacy

Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed her death and described his daughter as a vibrant and loving person.

The family has asked for privacy as they mourn.

Her death comes just three years after the passing of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who died in 2023 at age 28.

A Lasting Legacy

News of Panettiere’s death has prompted tributes from former co-stars, friends and fans around the world.

While she achieved fame at a young age, her later years were marked by a willingness to speak honestly about the challenges behind that public image.

For audiences who watched her grow from a child performer into a leading television actress, her death at just 36 is a heartbreaking loss.

The official cause of death will not be known until the pending toxicology results are completed.