Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," was found dead on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. Her passing at the age of 36 comes as her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, was reportedly still recovering from the loss of his son, Jansen, who died in February 2023 at age 28.
Neighbors described Panettiere's father as having retreated from his community in Piermont, New York, following his son's death and was only beginning to seem like he was "starting to come back from it" when he learned of his daughter's death. Panettiere had visited her father in New York the month prior to her passing.
Friends indicated that Panettiere had also been planning a trip to Ukraine to visit her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, who lives with her father, Wladimir Klitschko. "Her daughter was always her absolute priority," said Erick Orellana, a friend and hairstylist who worked with Panettiere for three years. "She loved her so much."
Authorities have not yet released a definitive cause of death. Audio from a 911 call made Sunday afternoon described the actress as suffering a "cardiac arrest," with a later male dispatcher mentioning a suspected overdose. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. The Greenville County Coroner's Office has completed an autopsy, stating that "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," with further investigations pending.
Panettiere had a history of struggles with addiction, which she began at age 15. Her addiction reportedly worsened during postpartum depression after giving birth to Kaya in 2014. In a 2022 interview, Panettiere stated she had been sober in recent years, describing sobriety as an "everyday battle" and an "everyday choice."
The actress had been grieving the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, who neighbors said had been abusing prescription painkillers. In an interview in May, Panettiere described Jansen as her "other half" and her "best friend," expressing the profound impact of his death, stating, "I don't want to live in a world where he doesn't exist."
Panettiere had previously spoken about her difficult decision to grant full custody of Kaya to Klitschko, explaining that she was struggling with mental health, anxiety, and postpartum issues and needed help. She emphasized that it was not a decision made lightly and that she knew she needed to "put her first" to get the help required to be the mother Kaya needed.
During childbirth in 2014, Panettiere recalled hemorrhaging, undergoing multiple blood transfusions and surgery. She stated she was ready to go if it was her time, with Kaya's safety being paramount. Following childbirth, she experienced postnatal depression and turned to alcohol, which led to dependency. While she underwent treatment, Panettiere felt the "root cause" of her drinking, the depression, was not adequately addressed.
In May, Panettiere released a memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," detailing her separation from her daughter and the emotional toll it took. She wrote about the "gut-wrenching experience" of not being under the same roof daily and grieving the mother she felt she was not, while cherishing the gift of being Kaya's mom.
Panettiere is remembered for her roles as Claire Bennett on NBC's "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes on the ABC musical drama "Nashville."