Hayden Panettiere dies, aged 36: Police say 'no signs of foul play' at home of actress

Hayden Panettiere dies, aged 36: Police say 'no signs of foul play' at home of actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36 and in recent interviews spoke about struggling with addiction and losing custody of her daughter US actress Hayden Panettiere, who was best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36. Her death was confirmed by her representatives and followed with a statement. The statement from her father Skip read: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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.” At present, no cause of death has been announced. A preliminary police investigation has confirmed there were no signs of "foul play or suspicious circumstances" when they arrived at her home after a 911 emergency call from an acquaintance of Panettiere's. Celebrities including Selma Blair, Viola Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, and singer JoJo have all paid tribute to the star as her former co-stars reach out across the globe. Her final interviews have also uncovered some of her candid recent comments as she discussed giving up custody of her daughter while struggling with addiction in one of her final interviews. In May, while speaking to US Weekly, Panettiere said that after having a medical emergency while birthing her daughter Kaya in 2015, she was no longer afraid of death. "I was shocked, because I grew up with this major fear of death. On the one hand I should have been terrified, but on the other hand, it was becoming a mother in that moment and a person is born that you are willing to do anything for, to lay your life down for. "I remember looking up, praying and saying, 'God, just let me hear my daughter cry. Let me know that she’s OK, and if it’s my time to go, then I’m OK with that, as long as she’s good.'" Bryan Fuller, who was a co-executive producer, writer and former consulting producer of Heroes, has shared a tribute to the late star. "SAVE THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD," began the message, using the show's tagline that referred to Panettiere's immortal cheerleader character Claire. "It was an honor and an inspiration to write Claire Bennet’s storyline in season one of HEROES. Hayden was more than an actress she was a muse. "Wise beyond her years and already saddled with so much of a life, she left an indelible mark on me as a writer and a storyteller. Incredibly sad news." While promoting her book with US Weekly in May, Panettiere revealed she was bisexual. She told the outlet: "Now that I know that this book is coming out, and that I’ve chosen to share it with the world, I’m comfortable to confidently say that yes, I am bisexual. I said it! This is the first time I got to say it out loud." She further explained: "That’s something about me I was never able to share with the world, because it was just never the right time. It was either I was too young, and I was being forced to be perfect at all times. I was not encouraged to just be myself. Then came the period where it felt like people coming out, especially women, saying that they were bisexual or liked girls, was a fad. "I was afraid that if I was honest, it was going to be like me jumping on the bandwagon. It was a very difficult topic to articulate properly. It’s sad I had to wait until I was 36 years old to share that part of me, but better late than never, right?" When speaking about dating women she said: "Yeah, I did. It was scary, though, because there were paparazzi always waiting for me outside, to follow me everywhere. I had very little privacy. I have dated women. I was much more into women even as a child than I was men. I have explored it, but because I hadn’t shared this with anybody, I didn’t really have the courage to throw myself fully emotionally into it. Because then if I did fall in love, that wasn’t something that I wanted to ever have to hide." Taking to X, Kathryn Henzler, has revealed that she had a wonderful interaction with Panettiere while working as a background actor on Scream 4. "I want to share something about Hayden Panettiere that will forever stay with me. My twin sister and I were background actors on the set of Scream 4, and were in the scene where Stab-A-Thon takes place in a barn. It was hot, dark, and buggy the whole night we were shooting... "...yet Hayden was nothing but nice to everyone around her, even chatting with background actors and complimenting their acting choices. Super professional, supremely talented, and just a lovely person to be on set with in the not-so-great conditions. Humble, kind, gone too soon," she shared on X, garnering over 5k likes. Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere were the lead co-stars in The Ice Princess, a 2005 family film abour competitive figure skating. Trachtenberg died in February 2025 at the age of 39 with medical reports confirming her primary cause of death was from complications of diabetes. Panettiere's cause of death has not yet been confirmed. Fans have pointed out the tragic coincidence that both stars of the film have died so young. "Ice princess quite literally shaped my entire childhood growing up and now both actress who stared in that very film are now longer here. this so incredibly sad omg," said one fan on X. "Rest in peace to these ice princesses," said another with a broken heart emoji. "Forever michelle and hayden." Heather Matarazzo, who played Lily Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries shared an image of herself with Hayden with a heartfelt tribute. "Devastated…… We first met on the LIRR traveling to NYC for auditions when we were both kids. Every time our paths crossed, my heart always filled up. She was special. She was a Sprite of a being and such a talent. Truly a light….. Love you, Hayden." Singer JoJo wrote on her Instagram Stories: “This is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God”. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell shared a picture of Panettiere on Instagram with the caption: “Oh my god – heartbroken.” Jay Shetty, who interviewed Panettiere not long before her death commented on a post from Variety on Instagram: "Truly heartbroken by this news." On the same post, actor Don Benjamin also commented: "Damn! Worked with her on Heroes. What a kind soul. RIP" Singer Lizzy McAlpine commented: "Omfg" on the post, and actress Greer Grammer, who appeared in Awkward and whose father is Kelsey Grammer, said: "oh my god this is just absolutely devastating. I can’t believe it." SAG-AFTRA also shared on X: "We mourn the sudden passing of Hayden Panettiere. A child actor, Hayden's long career in TV & film included memorable roles in 'Heroes,' 'Nashville' & more. Our hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans. #RIP. #SagAftraMember since 1994." Panettiere's death at the age of 36, comes just three years after her younger brother Jansen Panettiere died at the age of 28. Jansen died of natural causes with his death certificate revealing that he died from cardiomegaly (the medical term for an enlarged heart) along with aortic valve complications. "He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him,” Hayden told People Magazine in 2024. “When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul.” She added: "I will always be heartbroken about it. I will never be able to get over it...No matter how many years go by, I will never get over his loss." Panettiere released her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning earlier this year in which she detailed her relationship with her daughter Kaya, 11, after losing custody of her six years ago to her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, 50. “Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it,” she wrote in her book. “I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom. “She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.” One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz, has shared a tribute to her friend of several decades: "There is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But Im here with my head in my hands and I don’t know what else to do in aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue. "I’m crushed. I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gem studio hallways at 222 E44th St. laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals. Long, unruly curls trailing behind her. She knew her lines and everyone else’s. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera. "And she’d sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play. We’d connect on and off over the years, like the cousin in the family reunion who got famous and life moved her away—but I always felt such joy seeing her when we were lucky enough to cross paths. We’d make a pact to talk soon. Lunch. Dinner. Somewhere we could curl up into a corner—but we never quite made it happen. I mostly stayed up to date through mutual friends. "I dont understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she? 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."These are moments of how I knew you, in glimpses over 27 years. I don’t know how to process this. I am praying for you to know the peace of God now and always." Police have now confirmed that they have found "no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances". Detectives then confirmed that they responded to a 911 emergency call about an "unresponsive female" at an apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina. A spokesman for City of Greenville Police told the Daily Mail: "On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road. "Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene. "The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner's Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release." In her final post on Instagram, Panettiere’ shared an image on 27 July, smiling with her friend, photographer and director Randall Slavin. Joining the celebrities paying tribute to Panettiere, Slavin later reposted the black-and-white image to his Instagram Stories, writing: “Peace be with you, H.” 7th Heaven’s Beverley Mitchell also commented on Panettiere’s final Instagram post: “Praying the news is wrong! You are such a bright light and soooo loved!!!!” Scream co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram story, writing, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden,” alongside a broken heart emoji. Singer JoJo wrote on her Instagram Stories : “This is such devastating news. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Oh My God”. Viola Davis, 61, who appeared alongside Panettiere in the 2016 courtroom drama film Custody, took to social media to share her tribtue to Panettiere. "What an amazing talent you were….so gifted. Julius and I loved working with you….an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.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. Sending healing prayers to your family, your daughter, and all who loved you. May they always speak your name…” Davis’ husband Julius Tennon also appeared in the film with them, playing a court officer. Legally Blonde actress Selma Blair, 54, has led tributes to the acterss with heartbreaking messages shared on Panettiere's Instagram. "I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone . Please. Please," read one comment from the star on Panetierre's last Instagram post. Then she shared: "I love you whale tail my friend." An hour later she shared: "I’m dying. Please be here." In a May 2026 podcast interview with Jay Shetty for his self-named podcast, the actress said she felt she had a lot more life to live. “I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” Panettiere said while promoting her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened … I can feel all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.” In what would be one of her final interviews, Hayden Panettiere spoke about giving up custody of her daughter while struggling with addiction. Speaking to parenting outlet Mome for its July cover, she spoke about the birth of her daughter Kaya, 11, and her eventual decision to give up custody to her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, 50. “It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be," she said. After birthing her daughter in 2014, Panettiere haemorrhaged and underwent seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair vessels. She then suffered from postpartum depression, and then 'turned' to alcohol. “I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day," she said in the interview. Six years on from giving up custody, she spoke about how close she was with her daughter: "I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.”