Actor and singer Hayden Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at the scene in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday, according to local officials. Officers and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call shortly before 2 p.m. on Sunday involving the 36-year-old star, who was found unresponsive inside the Greenville residence, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office stated Monday.
First responders initiated advanced cardiac life support measures, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, the coroner's office said. A preliminary investigation by the Greenville police department indicated no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Reports from TMZ, Page Six, and People indicated that first responders were overheard on 911 dispatch audio discussing a possible overdose at the scene. The official cause and manner of her death remain under further investigation.
A representative for Panettiere confirmed her death to ABC News late Sunday. Her father, Skip Panettiere, released a statement describing her as "an incredible light and a force of nature" who brought joy to those who knew her and to millions who watched her on screen. He noted her passing was "tragic."
Panettiere, who began her career as a child star and appeared in the "Scream" and "Bring It On" franchises, recently released a memoir in May. In it, she discussed her struggles with substance abuse, loss, domestic abuse, and the traumatic birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
Her death has prompted tributes from former co-stars, including Viola Davis, who remembered Panettiere as an "amazing talent" and expressed a wish that "the world had more time."