The Greenville County coroner's office has completed a post-mortem examination on Hayden Panettiere, which found that "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death." The Heroes and Nashville actress died on Sunday (August 16) at the age of 36.
Police statement on her death
Police have said there are "no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances" surrounding her death. She was found in her home in Greenville, South Carolina, after an acquaintance called 911 reporting that the actress was "unresponsive" and in "cardiac arrest."
A statement from the Greenville police department said: "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."
Family tribute
Her family confirmed her death and said they would remember her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her." A statement from her father Skip said: "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 also asked for privacy as the family "take time to process this unimaginable loss."
Career and personal struggles
Panettiere began acting as a child, appearing in adverts and soaps before gaining wider recognition as the voice of Dot in Pixar's 1998 film A Bug's Life and her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington.
She became a global star playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville. Her performances earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, and her singing on the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
In a memoir published earlier this year, Panettiere opened up about her mental health issues, 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 told podcaster Jay Shetty after the release of her memoir in May: "The idea that anyone would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking and couldn't be further from the truth."
She said her daughter had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid her struggles with addiction and mental health. She said: "I was struggling with mental health and anxiety, and the postpartum and having to act my way through it and just feeling like I completely lost myself."
