Brian Hickerson, the boyfriend of actress Hayden Panettiere, has issued a statement following her death. The American star, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died aged 36 at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were reportedly present at the flat at the time.
No Signs of Foul Play
Authorities discovered Panettiere unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. A post-mortem examination conducted by the Greenville County coroner's office revealed "no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances". Through the Ellis Hinton law firm, Brian Hickerson released a statement saying: "Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Tributes from Family and Ex-Partner
On Monday, Panettiere's representatives described the actress as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her", adding that this is how her family will remember her. The cause and manner of death remain unconfirmed. Former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, Panettiere's ex-partner, expressed that his family is "going through a time of profound shock and grief". The pair were in a relationship between 2009 and 2018, welcoming their daughter in 2014. In 2018, Panettiere granted Klitschko full custody of their daughter Kaya while she addressed struggles with addiction and mental health.
Career Highlights
Beginning her acting career as a child, the 36-year-old appeared in soap operas before earning broader recognition for her part in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, as well as voicing Dot in Pixar's 1998 animated film A Bug's Life. Panettiere subsequently rose to prominence portraying cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero series Heroes, before taking on the role of aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes across six seasons of the hugely popular TV drama Nashville. Her work on Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, while her vocal performances on the show generated 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Among her film credits are 2006's Bring It On: All Or Nothing, the comedy-drama Raising Helen, and her appearances as Kirby Reed in both Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Earlier this week, her father Skip paid tribute, describing her as "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 requested that the family be afforded privacy as they "take time to process this unimaginable loss".
