Hayden Panettiere was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest after what emergency dispatchers described as an apparent overdose Sunday, with CPR already underway as paramedics rushed to the South Carolina residence. First responders continued chest compressions and administered advanced cardiac life support, but could not revive her. Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., about 41 minutes after the initial 911 call. She was 36.
The call came at approximately 1:51 p.m. on August 16th from a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettiere had been staying temporarily. Greenville Police said an acquaintance found the actress unresponsive and called 911. Investigators have not yet identified who that person is or said why Panettiere was in Greenville.
The initial emergency dispatch traffic described an “unresponsive female” and “cardiac arrest.” A later transmission sent another unit to the same address for an “overdose,” while another responder reported, “CPR in progress.” Paramedics then attempted to resuscitate Panettiere with chest compressions and advanced cardiac life support. Those efforts continued until she was declared dead at the scene.
People obtained the dispatch audio and reported that Narcan was found at the residence. Asked about the apparent overdose, Panettiere’s representative told the outlet, “I don’t have any more information at this time, but it’s looking as though that is the case.” No official agency has confirmed an overdose as her cause of death as of yet.
Greenville police said their preliminary investigation found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy Monday and found no trauma that would have contributed to her death, ABC News reported. Her cause and manner of death remain pending while investigators wait for additional studies, including toxicology results.
Panettiere had spoken openly about her history of alcohol and opioid addiction. In a 2022 interview with People, she described a years-long struggle that damaged her health and nearly ended her career. She later spent eight months in rehabilitation and said recovery required a daily decision to avoid returning to what she called a “cycle of self-destruction.”
The actress revisited those years in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” which was released in May. The book covered her childhood in the entertainment industry, her struggle with addiction, postpartum depression after having her daughter, domestic abuse, and her attempts to rebuild her life. It arrived only three months before her sudden death.
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Panettiere began acting as a child and appeared on “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light” before moving into major film roles. She played Sheryl Yoast in “Remember the Titans” and later became widely known as Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes.” Her portrayal of country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville” earned her two Golden Globe nominations, and she also appeared as Kirby Reed in the “Scream” franchise.
Panettiere leaves behind her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she had with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Her father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, confirmed her death through the actress’s representative and asked for privacy. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her,” he said.