Actress Hayden Panettiere Dies At 36 From Cardiac Arrest

Hayden Panettiere is dead at 36. The actress, known for leading roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," passed away after a long career that included hits like "Remember the Titans" and "Bring it On: All or Nothing." Officials have not yet released the full story of how she died.

Preliminary autopsy results show no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, Fox News Digital can confirm. First responders found her in cardiac arrest. EMS tried advanced life support measures, but resuscitation failed. She was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM. The Greenville County Coroner's Office and the Greenville City Police Department are investigating parallel paths. No further details are available right now.

"At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," the coroner said. "The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies." The inquiry is active. It will continue until more facts emerge.

Panettiere spoke openly about the dangers she faced after "Heroes" made her famous at just 16 years old. She told an audience on "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" that the attention started cool but quickly turned invasive and dangerous for her and those around her. Photographers allegedly boxed her in while she drove and used confrontational tactics to provoke a reaction. Once, she left a store only to find more than 100 photographers waiting outside.

"I just felt this kick on the back of my leg," she said. "And I realized, when I turned around, they had a camera in my face and I realized that they were trying to get a reaction out of me." A publicist warned her to keep her expressions neutral as fame swelled. Still, Panettiere was shocked by what people did for a photo. The comments she received at such a young age were appalling. They were truly mind-blowing and shocking. It was just wildly dangerous.

Gayle King noted that Panettiere appeared clearly still struggling months before her death. In May, the actress told King off-camera that she felt in a good place. But King saw otherwise during their time together. "When she was here in the studio that day, and I was talking to her off-camera, she was saying she felt that she was in a good place," King shared. Panettiere said her daughter meant everything to her. She believed giving up custody of her daughter to her father was one of the hardest things she faced. Yet she thought it was best for the child. But she was still, clearly still struggling.

To wake up to hear this news was really tough," King added. "She was so good. She would've turned 37 on Friday." These words came from a deeply personal conversation between Panettiere and King on "CBS Mornings" in May. The actress sat down while promoting her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." During the interview, she opened up about her history with addiction, postpartum depression, and some of the most difficult periods of her life.

Hayden Panettiere would have celebrated her 37th birthday on Friday, Aug. 21, just days after her death. She was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, shortly before 2 p.m. on Aug. 16, police said. Emergency personnel performed lifesaving measures, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances in the preliminary investigation. A cause of death has not been released yet. The Greenville County Coroner's Office is conducting an autopsy as the investigation continues.

Panettiere's official cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Preliminary autopsy results found "no signs of trauma" that contributed to her death, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office. Hayden Panettiere was days away from turning 37 before this shocking event occurred. The "Heroes" and "Nashville" actress was discovered in an apartment complex in South Carolina just a week after she passed away.

Hayden Panettiere had an on-again, off-again relationship with Brian Hickerson in the years before her death at age 36. He reportedly traveled with the actress from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive at that Greenville apartment complex on Aug. 16, according to TMZ. The two broke up briefly in 2022 but rekindled their romance the following year. It remains unclear what the status of their relationship was at the time of Panettiere's death.

The former couple's relationship was marked by highly public legal troubles. Hickerson was charged with domestic violence in 2019. He was arrested again in 2020 on domestic violence charges, including felony charges of corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor charge of battery on a spouse/cohabitant. In 2021, he was sentenced after pleading no contest to charges connected to the domestic violence involving Panettiere.

Panettiere publicly addressed the allegations following Hickerson's arrest. She said she hoped sharing her story would help others in abusive relationships. "I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve," she said in a statement, according to People magazine. "I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I'm grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life."

Hayden Panettiere and Hickerson reportedly met through mutual friends in 2018 shortly after her split from Wladimir Klitschko. Hickerson is from South Carolina. He worked in real estate before pursuing acting and had a small role in the 2017 thriller "M.F.A."

Hayden Panettiere revealed a doctor's dire warning about her drinking: she could be dead within five years if she did not stop. Hayden Panettiere revealed the frightening toll alcohol had taken on her body, including that stark warning from a medical professional. In 2020, the actress entered treatment for what became an eight-month stay. In her memoir, she detailed the painful withdrawal symptoms she experienced as her body adjusted to sobriety. "As my nervous system tried to regulate itself without the depressant effects of alcohol, it went into overdrive, and my whole body shook," she wrote.

The situation highlights how health struggles can end abruptly. Government guidelines on substance abuse often lag behind individual crises. Communities face risks when public figures suffer in silence before tragedy strikes. The lack of immediate clarity around her death leaves many wondering if support systems were sufficient or if early intervention could have changed the outcome.

I couldn't sleep, and my head pounded like it was pressing against my skull." That description came from Hayden Panettiere as she spoke to Fox News Digital earlier this year. She revealed she had previously developed jaundice and received an alarming warning from a doctor about her health. "At least my eyes aren't yellow," she told herself, according to the interview notes. A physician gave her a stark ultimatum: stop drinking or face death within five years. Panettiere acknowledged in July that she knew she had to get help right then. "[I had to] do it for myself," she said. "I knew I was no good in the condition that I was in."

Before her death at age 36, Hayden Panettiere spoke openly about a painful custody decision involving her daughter, Kaya. In 2018, she transferred legal guardianship to her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko. She explained this choice stemmed from her own difficult personal state. "I just knew that if I wanted to... I knew how bad a place I was in," the actress told Fox News Digital. She hid her struggles from Kaya as much as possible during those years. Panettiere noted that Kaya's support system in Europe reassured her that the move was right for the child.

She worried deeply about a public custody dispute between two famous parents. "When I saw her in the environment over there (in Europe) and the support system that she had, I said to myself," Panettiere recalled. "'If I fight, if I go to war about this, it's going to permanently damage my child. It's going to be incredibly public. She's got two very famous parents, and it's going to be ugly.'" The actress chose to let Kaya remain in Europe with Klitschko, where she believed her daughter was safe, loved, and well cared for. "I will travel here as much as I can," she said. "I know she's safe. I know she's well taken care of, beyond well taken care of."

The emotional weight of that decision still lingered for Panettiere. She admitted trying to numb herself to the pain at the time. "It was very hard to wrap my mind around the pain, the emotional pain of that," she said. Yet she kept moving forward somehow. This period followed a troubling experience from her teenage years that she also shared with reporters in July. Panettiere recalled being given what she was told was a "happy pill" before walking a red carpet for the show "Heroes."

"I was standing on the side of the red carpet about to go on and do the line of interviews for 'Heroes,'" Panettiere described the scene. A person, whom she identified as a former rep in her book, opened their hand and offered a substance. "'Take this. It's a happy pill. It'll make you feel amazing and energetic and it'll make the interviews so much easier.'" Panettiere was just 16 or 17 at the time. She trusted that person because she believed it was their job to protect her. "So, I just, without thinking, popped it in my mouth," she said. She later learned it was some sort of amphetamine.

Looking back on that incident, Panettiere questioned how such a moment had been allowed to happen. "I can't believe that happened. What a wild and inappropriate thing to happen," she stated. "Where were the people who were supposed to protect me?" The actress stressed she did not consider herself addicted at that specific point in her life. Her struggle with addiction came later, after the birth of her daughter. "That's when I was like, when you wake up in the morning and the first thing you're thinking about is having a drink," she explained. These revelations highlight how government regulations and professional oversight must remain vigilant to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

It's a problem." That simple phrase captures the weight behind Hayden Panettiere's final days and public reflections on her own battles with addiction. Her Hollywood journey started remarkably early in life. Long before audiences knew her for starring in Nashville, she appeared in television commercials as an infant. She was just 11 months old when she began working, launching a career that would take her from daytime television to major network dramas and films. By about age four, Panettiere had landed a role on the soap opera One Life to Live, playing Sarah Roberts. She later joined the cast of Guiding Light as Lizzie Spaulding, building an early resume while growing up in the public eye. Her breakthrough came in 2006, when she was cast as Claire Bennet on NBC's Heroes. Her character quickly became one of the series' most recognizable figures. Panettiere also appeared in films including Remember the Titans, Bring It On: All or Nothing, I Love You, Beth Cooper and the Scream franchise. Her career spanned more than three decades and made her one of the most recognizable performers of her generation.

Hayden Panettiere said Nashville forced her to live through addiction twice. Before her death at 36, she reflected candidly on the difficult overlap between her personal life and her role as Juliette Barnes on that show. Panettiere wrote in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, that the character's struggles began to mirror her own during much of the show's fourth season. During the better part of season four, my personal problems were writing the script, she explained. Juliette Barnes had postpartum depression, an alcohol and pill problem, and a divorce on the horizon. She was erratic, an absentee mother, and fought with everyone including her fans. Every time I read the day's script, it was like I was looking in a funhouse mirror, seeing a distorted reflection of myself. I can't tell you how lost this made me feel. Panettiere explained that on earlier projects she could separate herself from the characters she played. But while filming Nashville, she said that boundary disappeared, leaving her without the sense of escape that acting had once provided. She dove headfirst into my own hell, she wrote. I was suffering from debilitating anxiety and an addiction I couldn't shake, and I had to live through it twice. First at home as Hayden, and then in front of millions, as Juliette. Her reflections on Juliette's storyline offered a personal look at the challenges she faced both on and off screen.

Inside the emergency response following Hayden Panettiere's death, police said officers and emergency medical personnel were dispatched shortly before 2 p.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman at Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency vehicles were photographed outside the residence where actress Hayden Panettiere died Sunday at age 36. One image obtained by TMZ showed a fire truck parked near the property alongside multiple ambulances. Another showed a Greenville County Coroner's Office vehicle at the scene. A preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, according to authorities. Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her cause of death has not yet been released. Hayden Panettiere mourned the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, three years ago.

Hayden Panettiere is dead at the age of 28. Her family spoke out about her loss to Fox News Digital, painting a portrait of a man who was deeply creative and compassionate. They say his presence left a mark that will not fade. One statement captured exactly how he made people feel. "Jansen's heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit," they wrote. That was not just words on a screen. It was real emotion. His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered. The family shared this grief with the world before moving on to explain the medical facts. The medical examiner determined that Jansen's sudden death was caused by cardiomegaly, or an enlarged heart, along with complications involving the aortic valve. It is not known whether the condition had been diagnosed before his death. This uncertainty hangs heavy over the community that loved him.

Friends and former co-stars are now sharing emotional tributes to remember her kindness. Kelly Osbourne says Hayden Panettiere 'deserved better' as 'Heroes' costars pay tribute. More of Hayden Panettiere's friends and former co-stars are speaking up about the impact she had on their lives. Kelly Osbourne shared a deeply personal tribute, speaking about the bond the two shared through their experiences growing up in the public eye. "We understood each other in a way few truly can, recognizing how difficult it is to grow up in the spotlight, and how isolating it can feel even when surrounded by so many people," Osbourne wrote on her Instagram Stories. She was not alone in this feeling. Many stars knew what it meant to be watched every second of their lives. "My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me," she continued. "I will never forget you, Hayden, and I will always believe you deserved better." Osbourne concluded her tribute: "Rest in peace, sweet princess. You will never be forgotten."

Dania Ramirez also weighed in on the conversation. She starred alongside Hayden on "Heroes" and reflected on the love and energy she says Hayden brought to those around her. "My heart aches so much right now. I love you and will always miss you," Ramirez shared on Instagram. "I take comfort in knowing that I am with you in life and in death because your love and energy has always transcended this dimension." She also sent her thoughts to Hayden's daughter and loved ones, adding, "I know that the ones that got to feel your gifts will forever feel blessed and grateful for you." Fellow "Heroes" co-star James Kyson recalled first meeting Hayden when she was just 16. He described her as a veteran actor with a "bright spirit" and an "older soul." Kyson remembered Hayden as "a fierce protector of animal rights" and a "'cheerleader' for kindness, justice, and people being treated fairly." "May your soul Rest in Peace Hayden… and my deepest condolences & prayers for her family," he wrote on Instagram. "Life can be so short… let's send some love out to the world, our loved ones, and to those who need it most today."

Hayden Panettiere was especially protective of child actors on set because she walked that same path before them. Hayden Panettiere's own experiences growing up in Hollywood made her especially protective of child actors she then worked with on set. "Having been one myself, I'm very, very protective of them," Panettiere told MovieFone back in January while promoting her film "Sleepwalker." For the film, Panettiere portrayed a grieving mother who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter. "Especially with a dark subject matter like this, I was trying to be protective of them, their emotions, and them mentally, as well, and being able to pull them in and out of these dark, intense scenes." That care extended beyond the most intense moments on set. "Knowing when to shake it off, lighten up, crack some jokes and say, 'OK. Now, let's get back into it.' So, we don't have to spend all day feeling this heavy, dark weight following us around," she said. "I love them." It was a quiet but powerful stance on how the industry should treat its youngest members.

Fans remember Hayden Panettiere as pure, energetic, and untainted by the cynicism of adulthood. Her beauty felt real because it was so honest. She entered show business at a startlingly young age. Commercials for babies filled her early life before she landed a role on One Life to Live at about four years old.

Her major breakthrough arrived as Claire Bennet, an indestructible cheerleader in NBCs superhero drama Heroes. That series ran from 2006 until 2010 and defined her career. She followed that success with another defining television role as country singer Juliette Barnes on Nashville from 2012 to 2018.

Police say no signs of foul play exist in Hayden Panettieres death. A preliminary investigation found no suspicious circumstances surrounding the event, according to police statements. Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina shortly before 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Greenville Police Department issued this statement which was obtained by The Associated Press.

Life-saving measures were performed immediately upon arrival, yet Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene according to the official statement. An acquaintance of the 36-year-old actress called 911 from the apartment complex when she needed help. No cause of death has been provided to the public so far. The Greenville County Coroners Office was expected to perform an autopsy on the body. Both police and the coroners office are continuing to investigate the case with care.

Rosie ODonnell, Selma Blair, and many others react to Hayden Panettieres death by saying they are heartbroken. Hollywood stars and other celebrities are mourning the actress following her passing at age 36. Rosie ODonnell shared her shock in a brief Instagram reaction where she wrote Oh my god, heartbroken. Selma Blair posted an emotional message of disbelief on her own social media page. I love you, she added. Dont be gone. Please.

Podcaster Jay Shetty reflected on a friendship with Panettiere that he said had only recently begun when speaking out publicly. He could not believe it happened so soon after they shared meaningful conversations earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans was his final written message to the world. Actors David Arquette and Melissa Barrera also shared brief tributes on their social media accounts. Arquette wrote I love you Hayden while Barrera remembered the actress on her Instagram story by writing Rest in peace sweet Hayden.

One month before her death at age 36, Hayden Panettiere told Fox News Digital she was looking toward the future with hope in her heart. She had a long list of things she still hoped to accomplish during that time. I have a laundry list of things I would love to accomplish and create, Panettiere told Fox News Digital during an interview about her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning. The Heroes and Nashville actress said at the time that she was doing great after years of struggles she chronicled in her book.

I feel connected to myself, she told Fox News Digital while discussing her recovery path. I feel like Im taking good care of myself, checking in with myself. Panettiere had been candid both in her memoir and during the interview about addiction, treatment, postpartum depression, and the painful decision to have her daughter Kaya live with her father Wladimir Klitschko. But while discussing where she was in her life last month, Panettiere struck an optimistic note about her journey forward. I feel more connected with myself than I ever have before, she told Fox News Digital.

Panettiere also teased that she had been busy working on a potential new project during the interview process. I have a show that Ive been working on and I would love to create that, she said. She added that she wanted to direct as well. This news comes after such a tragic loss for fans everywhere who loved her work so much.

Hayden Panettiere shared a message of hope with Jay Shetty back in May during a podcast appearance. She told him she had finally moved past the darkness that weighed so heavily on her life for years.

I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity, she said to the interviewer. That means that I've closed one door and another door is opened. She could feel all the exciting possibilities again. I feel like I have a lot more life to live, she added with clear joy.

This report includes work from Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco who contributed to the story recently.

Just one month before Panettiere died at age 36, she spoke openly about her bond with daughter Kaya in an interview. She explained why letting her eleven-year-old girl live with her father was the correct choice for everyone involved.

I felt like I made the right call, Panettiere told Fox News Digital during that conversation. I've seen who she is and she's an incredible human being. Something must have gone right in all of this pain and loss, she believed.

Panettiere shared custody of Kaya with her former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko yet they stayed very close despite the miles between them.

I travel a lot to Europe, and I spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her, she told Fox News Digital. And Wlad and I have a good relationship that holds strong even now.

As Kaya grew older into her early teens, Panettiere said she saw more of herself reflected in her daughter. She's 11 now, so time is flying, she noted during the discussion. I feel like she's becoming more and more curious about me, my life and who I am. We're so similar. She is me. I understand her in a way that nobody else can according to the actress.

In her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere described living apart from Kaya as the most gut-wrenching experience of my life during those hard years. Yet she wrote that she knew how blessed she was to be her mother despite the separation.

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report covering these emotional details once again.

One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Lenz shared an emotional tribute to Hayden Panettiere after hearing the news of her death at 36. She recalled knowing the actress since childhood and expressed disbelief over such a young loss in our community.

I'm crushed, Lenz wrote on Instagram following the tragedy. I knew the wild little blonde who used to run around everywhere. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen when I first met her back then.

Lenz remembered Panettiere running through the halls of Screen Gems studios as a child, describing her as remarkably perc