Actress Hayden Panettiere was seen smiling and seemingly happy in her last public interview in May, months before her death at age 36. Police found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances when responding to a call about an unresponsive female at a South Carolina apartment.
Panettiere, best known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," gave her final public interview on May 20 while promoting her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." During the interview at LaGuardia Airport in New York, she was asked about an incident detailed in her book involving a friend and a famous British singer-songwriter. Panettiere declined to answer the question with a smile. She also laughed when asked about using psychedelic mushrooms during a cast event while filming "Scream 4."
Her last public outing was on May 26, when she attended a book signing in Los Angeles. Earlier in July, Panettiere had withdrawn from a fan convention due to a family emergency, which her representative stated was related to the health of an elderly relative.
Panettiere began her acting career as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 film "Remember the Titans" and as the voice of Dot in Pixar's "A Bug's Life." She later achieved fame as Claire Bennet in the drama "Heroes" and as Juliette Barnes in the television series "Nashville," earning two Golden Globe nominations for the latter. Her filmography also includes "Bring It On: All Or Nothing," "Raising Helen," "Scream 4," and "Scream VI."
Police confirmed they responded to a 911 call on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 p.m. to an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Medical assistance was administered, but the individual, identified as Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation is being conducted by the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Coroner's Office. Preliminary findings have not indicated foul play or suspicious circumstances.
In her memoir, Panettiere also discussed her struggles with addiction and mental health throughout her 20s, the loss of her younger brother, Jansen, and her decision to give full custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018. She had explained that her daughter lived with her father full-time from a young age due to the actress's personal challenges.
A representative confirmed her death, stating that her family would remember her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy." Her father also shared a statement expressing profound sadness and requesting privacy for the family.