The death of actress and activist Hayden Panettiere is under investigation in South Carolina, with authorities yet to confirm a cause. The 36-year-old was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville on Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the local police department.
Officers responded to a call shortly before 2 pm local time (8 pm CEST) and administered life-saving measures, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
While no official cause has been announced, US media have been quick to speculate. People magazine reported that emergency services dispatch audio, which it obtained, captured officials discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest”. These reports remain unconfirmed, and the investigation is ongoing.
A family's grief
Panettiere's family confirmed her death through a publicist. Her father, in a statement to ABC News, described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought joy to those who knew her and to the millions who watched her on screen. He asked for privacy as the family processes “this unimaginable loss”.
Born in Palisades, New York, in 1989, Panettiere began her career in commercials before her first birthday. She went on to appear in soap operas such as One Life to Live and Guiding Light, and voiced the character Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life. In 2000, she appeared alongside Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans.
Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet, a cheerleader with regenerative powers, in the NBC science-fiction drama Heroes. The role made her an international star. She later played country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville from 2012 to 2018, earning two Golden Globe nominations.
Panettiere also appeared in films including Ice Princess, I Love You, Beth Cooper, and Scream 4, reprising her role as Kirby Reed in Scream VI in 2023.
Beyond acting, Panettiere was open about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Earlier this year, she published a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, reflecting on her career and personal life.
Her relationship with Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko began in 2009. The couple became engaged in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, the following year. They separated in 2018.
As news of her death spreads, tributes have begun to appear from fans and colleagues. The investigation into the circumstances of her death continues, with authorities expected to release further details in due course.
