Hayden Panettiere death news – Live updates as details revealed

Updated Aug. 17, 2026, 10:04 p.m. ET

New details surrounding the death of Hayden Panettiere are emerging as authorities continue to investigate what caused the actress’ death at 36.

Panettiere’s representative confirmed her death to USA TODAY on Sunday, Aug. 16.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement her rep shared. “She was 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.”

The “This Is Me: A Reckoning” author, whose prolific career in TV and film began when she was a baby, got her big breakout role on NBC’s “Heroes” after roles in “Remember the Titans,” “Ally McBeal” and Disney’s “Ice Princess,” later starring as a country-pop singer in more than 100 episodes of “Nashville.”

Here’s everything we know about her death so far.

How did Hayden Panettiere die?

The “Nashville” star was found unresponsive at Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16, the Greenville Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY.

Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the apartment complex at 701 Easley Bridge Road at approximately 1:51 p.m. after an acquaintance of Panettiere called 911, Greenville Police Sgt. Jonathan Bragg told USA TODAY in a statement.

“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Bragg said.

Hayden Panettiere cause of death: Actress found in cardiac arrest

The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death remain under investigation by the Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

“The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” Bragg said. According to an Aug. 17 statement from Greenville County Coroner Mike Ellis, Panettiere did not have any signs of trauma that “would have contributed to the death.”

A cause and manner of death have not been announced yet. An autopsy was completed on Aug. 17, per Ellis, but cause of death details “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”

According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by TMZ, emergency responders referenced a possible overdose and cardiac arrest while responding to the call about Panettiere. Ellis later confirmed in a statement that first responders and emergency medical services found Panettiere in cardiac arrest. EMS personnel initiated “advanced cardiac life support measures,” the coroner added, but recovery efforts were unsuccessful.

What happened at Judson Mill Lofts after Hayden Panettiere’s death?

Residents of Judson Mill Lofts were notified of the police response to Panettiere’s death in emails from apartment management, which assured them there was “no threat” to the community, according to a Monday report from the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

“We understand that a visible emergency and law enforcement response can be unsettling, and we appreciate your patience, discretion and understanding,” management said in a statement shared by a resident with the Greenville News.

Residents were also asked not to speak with the media to protect the privacy of those involved.

Gayle King recalls emotional Hayden Panettiere interview 3 months before death

The day after Panettiere’s death, TV journalist and “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King looked back on her time with the actress during an appearance on the daytime talk show.

King interviewed Panettiere in May for a candid discussion of her memoir “This is Me: A Reckoning.”

“It was hard when she was here that day,” King reflected. “When she was here in the studio that day, and I was talking to her off camera, she was saying she felt that she was in a good place.”

But King also noted the emotional toll that her personal struggles, including giving up custody of daughter Kaya, had taken on her over the years.

“She was still clearly struggling. To wake up to hear this news was really tough,” King said. “She was so good. She would’ve turned 37 on Friday.”

Hayden Panettiere memoir, interviews detailed addiction and childhood fame

In the years leading up to her death, Panettiere had been candid about her health and struggles with substance use. The actress previously revealed that she struggled with alcohol and opioid addiction and sought treatment. She also spoke openly about experiencing postpartum depression after welcoming her daughter, Kaya, in 2014.