Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36 in South Carolina

Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," died on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the age of 36. She was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, and pronounced dead shortly after 2:32 p.m. following unsuccessful resuscitation efforts. Authorities have confirmed no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and the official cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Emergency medical personnel responded to a 911 call placed from the residence by Brian Hickerson, Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend. His brother, Zach Hickerson, was also present. According to police reports, Zach became very emotional during the medical response, while Brian did not show emotion until after Panettiere was declared deceased. At the scene, Brian Hickerson provided authorities with a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking, though the specifics were redacted in the report. Surveillance video from the apartment complex captured footage of Panettiere and both brothers before her death, and a search warrant was executed at the residence.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on August 17, which found no...