Actress Hayden Panettiere died at 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, with preliminary investigations into her death indicating a suspected overdose. Police and the local coroner's office are investigating the circumstances, though early findings have not suggested foul play.
Panettiere was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment. Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, was found in the apartment, and 911 audio revealed the actress had gone into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy has been completed, and initial findings revealed no signs of trauma on her body. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of death.
Her close friend, musician Clayton Johnson, shared the last text message Panettiere sent him. In the message, she wrote, "Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me." Johnson described this as characteristic of her spirit and paid tribute to her memory.
Panettiere had a well-documented history of struggling with addiction, which began in her teenage years. Her addiction reportedly worsened during postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. She had spoken publicly about her ongoing battle with sobriety, describing it as an "everyday battle."
In 2022, Panettiere stated she was sober and actively working on her recovery, emphasizing the daily choice to remain sober and the gratitude she felt for being able to re-engage with the world. She also revealed in interviews that she nearly died during childbirth and subsequently made the difficult decision to grant full custody of her daughter to her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere's daughter, Kaya, who is now 11, lives in Europe with Klitschko. Panettiere expressed that the separation from her daughter was emotionally challenging, detailed in her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning," released in May. She conveyed her deep love for her daughter and her hope that Kaya would one day understand the reasons behind their separation.
Known for her roles as Claire Bennet in the NBC series "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes in the ABC show "Nashville," Panettiere also released music during her time on "Nashville." She is remembered for her performances on screen and her candidness about her personal struggles.