tributes pour in for hayden panettiere after death at 36: 'this loss is devastating'
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hayden panettiere, best known for her roles in the tv series “heroes” and “nashville,” has died at 36 after being found “unresponsive” at a luxury apartment complex in south carolina.
her father confirmed the death in a statement to abc news.
“it is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved hayden,” skip panettiere said in the statement. “she was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”
“we ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss,” skip added.
panettiere arrived day before with boyfriend
a friend found panettiere, with emergency personnel responding to a call of a person in “cardiac arrest” and an “unresponsive female,” tmz reported.
a 911 call was placed at 1:51 p.m. on sunday. panettiere was believed to be staying at an airbnb rental in greenville, new york post’s page six reported.
panettiere reportedly travelled from los angeles to south carolina on saturday with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, brian hickerson, per fox news.
police and ems workers attempted to revive the actress with “advanced cardiac life support.” however, she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
died of an ‘overdose’?
tmz reported that police said there were no initial signs of foul play and the circumstances behind panettiere’s death didn’t appear to be suspicious.
according to 911 audio, panettiere died of an apparent “overdose,” per tmz.
the greenville county coroner completed an autopsy on panettiere on monday. the coroner told page six that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to her death.”
“the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies,” the coroner added, noting the investigation remains active and ongoing.
hayden panettiere stars in nashville. (abc television)
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celebs pay tribute to panettiere
in a post on instagram, actress viola davis paid tribute to her fallen friend, calling panettiere an “amazing talent” who was “so gifted.”
“an old, wise soul with such a deep heart,” said davis. “i wish the world had more time with you because i had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming. i saw this beautiful phoenix rising from the ashes. your tests became your testimony, and your testimony became your legacy. you will be remembered.
“rest well, hayden. sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you,” davis added.
“one tree hill” star bethany joy lenz posted a lengthy remembrance on social media along with photos with her and panettiere over the years. lenz said news of her friend’s death “crushed” her.
“i don’t understand how this is real. everything seemed to be turning around. she was coming back to life, wasn’t she?” wrote lenz. “it’s too young and there’s still so much more life. and her daughter…. hayden, you are surround by love. i’m sorry for every moment i didn’t reach out or check in. this can’t be real.”
in panettiere’s final instagram post from july 27, actress selma blair wrote: “i love you. don’t be gone. please.”
“i love you whale tail my friend,” blair added.
jay shetty, who interviewed the actress earlier this year, wrote: “i can’t believe it. our friendship had just begun and i was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year.”
panettiere’s “scream” co-star david arquette wrote: “my love and condolences to her family and fans. i love you hayden.”
tim allen, who played panettiere’s father in the film, “joe somebody,” said he was shocked and saddened by her passing.
“the fondest memories of that movie were moments around her. she is a wonder and my prayers are with her family,” said allen on x.
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in an instagram story, mexican actress melissa barrera wrote: “rest in peace, sweet hayden.”
“wednesday” star jenna ortega also took to instagram to write: “this loss is devastating. rest in peace.”
kelly osbourne shared an emotional tribute on instagram, discussing the deep bond the two shared growing up in the public eye.
“we understood each other in a way few truly can — recognizing how difficult it is to grow up in the spotlight, and how isolating it can feel even when surrounded by so many people,” osbourne wrote. “my heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me. i will never forget you, hayden, and i will always believe you deserved better.”
panettiere’s “heroes” co-star, dania ramirez, wrote on instagram: “my heart aches so much right now. i love you and will always miss you.”
“i take comfort in knowing that i am with you in life and in death because your love and energy has always transcended this dimension,” ramirez added.
fellow “heroes” co-star james kyson described panettiere as a “bright spirit” and an “older soul” upon meeting her when she was 16.
“may your soul rest in peace hayden… and my deepest condolences & prayers for her family,” kyson wrote on instagram. “life can be so short… let’s send some love out to the world, our loved ones, and to those who need it most today.”
television and film career
born in palisades, n.y., in 1989, panettiere’s professional acting career began in 1994 when she was cast in the soap opera “one life to live.” in 1996, her soap opera credits continued, starring in “guiding light,” a show she later returned to from 1997 to 2000.
jumping to the silver screen at age 9, panettiere made her debut as the narrator and voice of princess dot in 1996’s “a bug’s life.” in 2000, panettiere landed one of her most well-known film roles, playing the young daughter of assistant coach bill yoast (played by will patton) in “remember the titans,” people reported.
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in the mid 2000s, the actress returned to television with roles in “ally mcbeal” and “malcolm in the middle,” while also appearing in films such as 2004’s “tiger cruise” and 2005’s “ice princess.”
in 2006, panettiere shot to international stardom, landing the lead role of claire bennet, a high school cheerleader with self-healing powers, in the nbc show “heroes.”
after “heroes” concluded in 2010, panettiere starred as kirby reed in 2011’s “scream 4”, a role she later reprised in “scream 6” in 2023.
between 2012 and 2018, panettiere portrayed juliette barnes, opposite connie britton’s rayna jaymes in six seasons of abc’s musical drama “nashville.”
her most recent credits include “amber alert” in 2024 and “a breed apart” in 2025. her final film role, “sleepwalker,” will be released in theatres in january 2027, people reported.
us actress hayden panettiere arrives for the “emmy nominees night” event hosted by the hollywood reporter and sag-aftra in west hollywood, california, on september 10, 2022.
michael tran
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afp via getty images
panettiere had personal struggles
in 2014, panettiere welcomed a daughter, kaya, with her then-fiance, ukrainian champion heavyweight boxer wladimir klitschko. she and klitschko raised their daughter for the first four years of her life, but in 2018, panettiere gave full custody to klitschko.
panettiere recently appeared on jay shetty’s “on purpose” podcast, where she denied that she “gave away” kaya to klitschko, stating the decision to give up full custody was “heartbreaking.”
the actress said at the time of the custody change she was seeking treatment for alcoholism, substance abuse and postpartum depression, per people.
“i was on top of the world, and i ruined it,” she told people in 2022, highlighting that she spent years battling addiction and postpartum depression. “i’d think i hit rock bottom, but then there’s that trap door that opens.”
in february 2023, her younger brother, actor jensen panettiere, died of aortic valve complications at age 28, per the hollywood reporter.
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in may, panettiere released a memoir, “this is me: a reckoning.” in the book, she candidly talked about growing up in the limelight as a child star, along with her battles with addiction and postpartum depression.
in what appears to be her final interview, panettiere told parenting publication momé: “i’m a work in progress — we all are. i take each day as it comes. i’m doing the work, and i’m doing my best.”
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