Actress and activist Hayden Panettiere dies at age 36

Investigations are continuing around the circumstances of the death of the actress and activist Hayden Panettiere.

In a statement, the Greenville Police Department in South Carolina, said officers had responded to a report of an unresponsive female shortly before 2 pm local time (8 pm CEST) on Sunday. Life-saving measures were performed, but Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police reported there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

And while no cause of her death has been announced, there's widespread speculation from US media that it may have been due to an "overdose".

People Magazine reported that officers attending the scene were heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest”, citing an emergency services dispatch audio that had been obtained.

Family statement

Her death was confirmed in a statement from her family, released through her publicist.

In a statement to ABC News, Panettiere's father confirmed the actress's death, saying "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," he said.

He asked that her family be given privacy while they "process this unimaginable loss."

A career spanning two decades

Born in Palisades, New York, in 1989, Panettiere began appearing in commercials before her first birthday and went on to become a successful child actor, with roles in the soap operas One Life to Live and Guiding Light.

She appeared alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, having previously voiced Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life.

Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as cheerleader Claire Bennet, who possessed regenerative powers, in NBC's science-fiction drama Heroes. The role made Panettiere an international star.

She later played the ambitious country singer Juliette Barnes opposite Connie Britton in Nashville from 2012 to 2018. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Panettiere began a relationship with Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2009. The couple got engaged in 2013 and had a daughter, Kaya, the following year. They separated in 2018.

Panettiere also appeared in films including Ice Princess, I Love You, Beth Cooper and Scream 4, later reprising her popular role as Kirby Reed in 2023's Scream VI.

Hayden Panettiere's memoirs were published in May 2026 Titelseite des Buches

Away from acting, Panettiere spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression. Earlier this year, she published the memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she reflected on her career and personal life.

Hayden Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya and her parents.