Hayden Panettiere reveals cause of death: Actor died of fentanyl overdose, coroner says

Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and several other drugs as a result of what was believed to be an accidental overdose, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed on Tuesday, September 22nd.

Hayden Panettiere revealed the cause of death

The actor, known for his roles in Heroes, Nashville and Remember the Titans, was 36 years old. She was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina on the afternoon of August 16. Paramedics attempted advanced cardiac life support for more than 40 minutes before she was pronounced dead.

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According to the coroner, an autopsy determined Panettiere’s death was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. The coroner’s office said there were no signs of trauma. The death was classified as accidental.

Panettiere’s death initially prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding what happened inside the apartment. Police previously said there was no indication of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Greenville police confirmed Tuesday that their investigation is still ongoing.

Her boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were at the residence when Panettiere was found, according to a police report obtained by CBS News. The brothers called 911. Zach later said Brian administered Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, after Panettiere was found unconscious.

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The revelation of the cause of death comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the actor’s final hours. In early September, it was reported that investigators were looking into whether Panettiere obtained over-the-counter pills in Los Angeles. The investigation also focused on the possibility of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, although the coroner has not determined the cause of death at this stage.

Panettiere has spoken publicly about addiction and recovery throughout her life. She previously said she became addicted to alcohol and opioids as a teenager, and she spoke about those experiences, as well as postpartum depression and recovery, in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

In an interview with CBS News in May, she said she wanted to share her experiences so others wouldn’t feel like they had to hide their problems.

The actor’s death was announced in August, and questions about what happened remained unresolved until the latest findings. Her family’s publicist, Kasey Kitchen, told The Associated Press that the investigation is ongoing and described the case as complex.

Panettiere’s career and legacy

Panettiere began acting as a child and became widely recognized for her television work, notably as cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes and singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Her death, aged 36, has now been officially classified as accidental while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding it.

Panettiere began her career as a child actress, appearing in television commercials before landing roles on series including One Life to Live and Guiding Light. She gained wider recognition with films like Remember the Titans and Raising Helen before her breakthrough came with NBC’s Heroes, in which she played cheerleader Claire Bennet from 2006 to 2010.

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The role made her internationally recognized and earned her Golden Globe and Teen Choice Award nominations. She later became closely associated with ABC’s Nashville, where she played country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons from 2012 to 2018. Her performance combined acting and singing, with several songs from the series hitting the charts.

Panettiere also returned to the Scream franchise as Kirby Reed, first appearing in Scream 4 in 2011 before reprising the role in Scream VI in 2023. Her other credits include films such as I Love You, Beth Cooper, Custody and The Forger, while her voice work includes the video game Kingdom Hearts. Despite stepping away from acting for a period of time, Panettiere remained a well-known figure in American television and film.