New details have emerged about the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, with South Carolina authorities determining that the 36-year-old died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and several other drugs.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Emergency personnel attempted to revive her, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has determined that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. Her manner of death was officially classified as accidental.
Authorities also said the autopsy found no evidence of injuries that contributed to her death.
Although the cause and manner of Panettiere’s death have now been established, the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation by Greenville police. Authorities previously said their preliminary investigation had not uncovered signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Panettiere had spoken candidly in public about some of the most difficult chapters of her life, including struggles with substance use and alcohol as well as postpartum depression.
Those experiences became part of the story she chose to tell publicly. In her 2026 memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” Panettiere reflected on addiction, recovery and the personal challenges that accompanied a life spent largely in the public eye.
Her career began when she was a child and eventually grew into a successful run across television and film. She became particularly well known for playing Claire Bennet on “Heroes” before starring as Juliette Barnes on “Nashville.” Her credits also included films such as “Ice Princess.”
Away from the screen, Panettiere endured significant personal loss. Her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at age 28.
The confirmation of her cause of death adds a painful final chapter to the life of an actress who grew up before audiences and later became unusually open about the challenges she faced behind the scenes.
Panettiere was 36.
