Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the television series "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. She was found unresponsive on Sunday afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina. A 911 dispatcher described the situation as a "cardiac arrest," with another dispatcher later mentioning a suspected overdose in the call audio. Police and the local coroner's office are investigating the death, though preliminary findings have not indicated any foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene approximately 40 minutes after emergency services arrived. She was set to turn 37 on Friday.
In an interview conducted just three months prior to her death, Panettiere expressed optimism about her future. Speaking on Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast in May while promoting her book "This Is Me: A Reckoning," she stated, "I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity." She described anticipating "all the exciting possibilities" that lay ahead, adding, "I feel like I have a lot more life to live."
Panettiere's career began in television, with early roles in soap operas and a part in the 2000 film "Remember the Titans." She gained wider recognition for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the NBC superhero drama "Heroes" and later starred as Juliette Barnes in "Nashville" for six seasons, earning two Golden Globe nominations for her performance. Her film credits also include "Bring It On: All or Nothing," "Raising Helen," and appearances in the "Scream" franchise as Kirby Reed.
Representatives for Panettiere issued a statement expressing profound sadness, calling her "an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her." She is survived by an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whose custody she had previously granted to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
The investigation into her death is ongoing, with authorities stating no further details are available for release at this time.