Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville , was found unresponsive in South Carolina on Sunday, August 16, 2026. She was 36.
PEOPLE has obtained the preliminary police report into Panettiere's death, providing details about what happened after authorities were called to a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
What happened on August 16?
At around 1:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, August 16, police and EMS personnel in Greenville responded to a report of an “unresponsive female,” a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department reportedly told the PEOPLE.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the spokesperson said.
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The case is being investigated by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner's Office. Police said the preliminary investigation had not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
An acquaintance of Panettiere placed the 911 call, police said. Authorities did not release further details at the time.
Hayden Panettiere's career
Panettiere, who would have turned 37 on Friday, began her career as a child actor in commercials and soap operas.
Her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet, who had supernatural healing abilities, in Heroes propelled her to fame in 2006. The series became known for the phrase “Save the cheerleader, save the world.”
She later starred opposite Connie Britton in Nashville , playing country singer Juliette Barnes. The ABC series ran for four seasons before moving to CMT, where it continued for another two seasons.
Panettiere performed her own songs on Nashville . Her music from the series appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, while her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.
She also appeared in films including Remember the Titans , I Love You, Beth Cooper , Scream 4 and Scream VI .
Panettiere's personal struggles
Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with alcohol addiction and depression, including difficulties she experienced following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
She entered rehab in 2015 while filming Nashville .
“I was the one who put myself in the first treatment centre. I was drowning,” she said in a 2023 interview with Women's Health .
She also discussed her experience with fame and addiction in interviews and in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning , released earlier this year.
On Jay Shetty's podcast, Panettiere recalled the sudden explosion of her fame after being cast in Heroes and described the first time she was followed by paparazzi.
When she had imagined the moment as a young actress, she said she had planned to look chic.
Instead, she said, “it was just sheer terror.”
Panettiere's younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who was also an actor, died in 2023 at the age of 28 from heart-related complications.
As of now, authorities have not announced Panettiere's official cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
