Hayden Panettiere dies at 36 in apparent overdose

Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died of an apparent overdose on August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. She was 36 years old. Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zachary Hickerson, were present at the Airbnb apartment where she was found unresponsive. According to a police report, officers responded to a welfare check at the Judson Mill apartment complex. Brian Hickerson showed police a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking. Zachary Hickerson was described as visibly emotional as emergency workers attempted to save her.