Police in Greenville, South Carolina, say they have found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances in the death of the actress Hayden Panettiere.
The investigation is continuing, however, and the local coroner said an autopsy performed Monday showed no signs of trauma. However, a determination of the cause and manner of death could take as much as three months.
Panettiere, who starred in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” was pronounced dead Sunday after an acquaintance found her unresponsive in her Greenville apartment. She was 36.
The police department said officers and EMS personnel responded to a 911 call about an unconscious woman around 1:51 p.m. ET on Sunday. Emergency workers tried to resuscitate the woman, later identified as Panettiere, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said an acquaintance of Panettiere’s made the 911 call.
Panettiere’s father, Skip Panettiere, described his daughter as “an incredible light” and “a force of nature” who brought love and joy to those who knew her and to millions who watched her onscreen.
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A career that began in childhood
Panettiere was working in commercials and soap operas as a child before taking on larger roles in television and film.
Her early credits included “Remember the Titans” and a voice role in the animated film “A Bug’s Life.”
Panettiere found wider fame in 2006 playing Claire Bennet, the superpowered cheerleader at the center of “Heroes.” She won three Teen Choice Awards for the role.
She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on the musical drama “Nashville.”
She sang on the series herself and received two Golden Globe nominations. Music she recorded for the show also reached Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with 11 of her “Nashville” tracks appearing there.
Her film work also included two movies in the “Scream” franchise, “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” “I Love You Beth Cooper,” “Raising Helen” and “Ice Princess.”
Speaking publicly about struggles off-screen
In later years, Panettiere spoke openly about addiction, depression and recovery.
She entered treatment in 2015 while filming “Nashville.” She later described years of battling depression and anxiety as well as problems with alcohol and substance abuse.
Panettiere also discussed postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died from a heart condition in 2023 at age 28. Panettiere later spoke publicly about the lasting grief of losing him.
She released a memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in May. The book detailed her childhood in the entertainment industry and her experiences with addiction, abuse, recovery and grief.
Her acting career stretched across more than three decades.
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