Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died on Sunday at the age of 36. The New York-born actress passed away at a loft apartment in South Carolina after experiencing cardiac arrest, a situation authorities are investigating as a possible overdose.
Paramedics and officers responded to a 911 call from an acquaintance of the star, who was found unresponsive at the Judson Mill Lofts apartment block. Despite resuscitation efforts, including chest compressions, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. EDT.
An autopsy performed by the Greenville County Coroner found no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death. Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was reportedly found in the apartment. Detectives have stated that the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Following the news of Panettiere's death, Australian actress Ruby Rose shared a tribute on social media. Rose posted a photo of Panettiere with the words, "Hayden, I am begging you. No. My friend, no! WHO do we call? What is happening?" The nature of their relationship is unclear, as they did not work together and reportedly moved in different social circles. It remains ambiguous what Rose was specifically referring to in her post, though it has been speculated it could relate to discussions about Panettiere's past friendship with former co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who died approximately 18 months prior.
Panettiere's career began in childhood, with early roles in soap operas and a memorable appearance in the 2000 film "Remember the Titans." She later gained wider recognition as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama "Heroes" and achieved significant fame portraying country singer Juliette Barnes in "Nashville" for six seasons. She was also the voice of Dot in Pixar's 1998 film "A Bug's Life."
Panettiere had an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whose custody was granted to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. The actress was reportedly in South Carolina with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who is from the state, having flown from Los Angeles the day before her death. Panettiere was scheduled to celebrate her 37th birthday on the upcoming Friday.