Hayden Panettiere died from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl and four other drugs, and her death has been ruled an accident, the Greenville County Coroner's Office has confirmed. The 36-year-old actress was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026.
According to the coroner's office, a 911 call was received at approximately 1:51 p.m. reporting a cardiac arrest at 701 Easley Bridge Road. First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived to find a woman in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel began advanced cardiac life support, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
The decedent was identified as Hayden Leslie Panettiere, 36, of California. She had been temporarily staying at the residence where she was found unresponsive. An autopsy performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to the death.
The coroner's office listed the cause of death as the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine. The manner of death was ruled an accident. The Greenville County Coroner's Office said it opened a parallel investigation with the Greenville City Police Department.
Panettiere's boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, called 911 after finding the actress unresponsive, according to a police report. Hickerson later provided authorities with a bag containing medication Panettiere had been taking. The report described Zach as appearing «very emotional» while paramedics worked to revive her, while Hickerson did not become emotional until after she was declared dead.
Hickerson had traveled with the actress from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive, according to reports. The two briefly separated in 2022 but rekindled their relationship the following year. Hickerson's brother confirmed to police that Brian was in a relationship with Panettiere at the time of her death. The Drug Enforcement Administration was also contacted and assisted with the investigation.
Panettiere's representatives previously condemned speculation about her final hours, accusing outsiders of turning her death into an opportunity to «fuel gossip.» In a statement, her team said many people who were not close to her were speculating about a situation they knew very little about, calling it deeply disrespectful to her memory and to those grieving.
Her representatives also urged anyone with legitimate information to contact law enforcement rather than turning to social media. They said key details surrounding her death had yet to emerge and that those closest to her were cooperating with the ongoing investigation to help ensure the truth comes to light.
Panettiere began her career as a child actress and became widely known for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the series «Heroes.» She also appeared in films including «Remember the Titans» and «Ice Princess,» and later starred in the drama series «Nashville.» Her death prompted an outpouring of reaction from fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry.