Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for starring in the television series Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36 in South Carolina.
Authorities investigating her death have found no signs of violence or suspicious circumstances so far, according to reports published by People magazine.
Police officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a residence in the town of Greenville, South Carolina, after receiving reports of an unconscious woman at around 1:50 p.m. local time on Sunday.
Authorities were alerted through a 911 emergency call made by a friend of the actress, news outlet TMZ reported citing police sources.
Emergency communications recordings obtained by People revealed that responding officials discussed a possible overdose and cardiac arrest while en route to the scene.
Emergency medical crews attempted to revive Panettiere by administering advanced cardiac life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the actress was declared dead at 2:32 p.m.
Official authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of her death, but police sources noted that investigators have found no indications of criminal activity or suspicious circumstances.
Memoirs and personal struggles
Panettiere had spoken openly over the years regarding her personal struggles with alcohol and drugs. She took an extended break from the entertainment industry in 2016 before returning in 2023 with the feature film Scream VI.
In May, the actress published her memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she wrote candidly about her personal difficulties and the impact of growing up in Hollywood.
Following news of her passing, tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry. Fellow actors and public figures, including Viola Davis, Bethany Joy Lenz, and Melissa Barrera, paid tribute to Panettiere after learning of her death.
Career and television background
Panettiere launched her acting career as a child performer before establishing a broad body of work in film and television. She gained widespread recognition for her role as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the hit television series Heroes.
She later starred as country music singer Juliette Barnes in the musical drama series Nashville, appearing in 128 episodes between 2012 and 2018. Her work on the series earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations.
Her film credits included roles in feature productions such as Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess, and Scream 4.
Raised in Palisades, New York, Panettiere was born into a family connected to performing arts and public service, with a soap opera actress mother and a fire department captain father. As a child, she made early television appearances in popular series including Ally McBeal and Malcolm in the Middle.
