‘No signs of foul play’ relating to Hayden Panettiere’s death, police say

There were ‘no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances’ relating to Heroes and Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere’s death, police said. Panettiere, who died on August 16th, 2026, aged 36, was found unresponsive in her home by police in Greenville, South Carolina. Officers responded to a call from an acquaintance reporting she was in cardiac arrest. A postmortem by the Greenville County coroner’s office found no trauma contributing to her death. The cause and manner remain unconfirmed. The Greenville Police Department stated officers arrived at Judson Mill Lofts, 701 Easley Bridge Road, where EMS administered aid before pronouncing her deceased. The investigation is ongoing with the coroner’s office. An acquaintance placed the 911 call. Panettiere’s family described her as an ‘incredible light’ who brought joy to many. Her father, Skip, expressed profound sadness, noting she was a force of nature. Panettiere began acting as a child, gaining fame in *Remember The Titans*, *Heroes*, and *Nashville*. She earned two Golden Globe nominations for *Nashville* and had 11 US Billboard Hot Country Songs entries. Her film credits include *Bring It On: All Or Nothing*, *Raising Helen*, and *Scream* series. Industry pressure and prior struggles with addiction and mental health were noted. In her memoir, she discussed her loss of younger brother Jansen and decision to give custody of daughter Kaya to Wladimir Klitschko. She described her daughter living with her father due to her struggles.