Hayden Panettiere, who became a household name as a teenager for her role in Heroes and later starred in Nashville and multiple Scream films, has died at age 36.
Panettiere was pronounced dead at a South Carolina apartment Sunday, August 16. A cause of death has not been revealed, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma. Toxicology reports are pending and could take up to 12 weeks, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
An investigation is reportedly being conducted into Panettiere’s death involving Greenville police as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration after an incident report stated that her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, turned over a “bag of medication” to police.
On Friday, Panettiere’s ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko posted an emotional tribute on what would have been the late star’s 37th birthday. “You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten,” he wrote.
Panettiere was best-known for playing Sheryl Yoast in the 2000 Denzel Washington-led film Remember the Titans, high school cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s sci-fi drama Heroes (2006-2010), and aspiring country singer Juliette Barnes on the hit TV series Nashville (2012-2018).
Her New York Times bestselling memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, was published in May this year, in which she looked back at her childhood in Hollywood and her experiences with addiction, postpartum depression (which she claimed cost her a sponsorship with skincare brand Neutrogena), abusive relationships, and the loss of custody of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shares with former heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson breaks silence
Brian Hickerson has broken his silence following Hayden Panettiere’s death, issuing his first statement through his lawyer, Sloan Ellis.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Ellis said in a statement to TMZ. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
The statement added: “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Hickerson, who had an on-and-off relationship with Panettiere, was at the apartment when Panettiere was found unresponsive on Sunday, along with his brother Zach. He showed responding officers a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking, while authorities later said an autopsy found no signs of trauma.
The DEA has since joined the investigation, and Panettiere’s cause and manner of death remain pending.
Hickerson also has a history of domestic violence against Panettiere and pleaded no contest to two felony charges involving her in 2021.
Shahana Yasmin21 August 2026 04:00
Wladimir Klitschko pens emotional tribute on Hayden Panettiere’s 37th birthday
Klitschko and Panettiere welcomed their daughter, Kaya, in 2014.
In a moving Instagram tribute, Klitschko wrote: “Today is Hayden’s birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.
“I want to thank all of Hayden’s fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support. At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.
“If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind.
“Love is a superpower. Use it.
“Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 15:54
Panettiere’s emotional journal entry about relationship with Brian Hickerson
In June, Panettiere shared a journal entry she had written reflecting on their relationship on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast.
“I realized that I was more afraid of being alone than being abused,” she said.
“In order to be around that behavior, it took me dulling my senses and numbing myself with substances in order to silence that rational voice in my head that was telling me exactly what was going on, and the many reasons why I needed to get myself out of this toxic relationship and as far away from this person as possible.”
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 15:26
Hayden Panettiere’s former director spoke about working with late star
Griff Furst directed Panettiere in A Breed Apart, which was released in May 2025.
He posted a video Wednesday speaking about his experience working with the star and rooting for her to “beat the addiction that she spoke about openly and publicly herself.”
“A producer or director, no matter how certain you are that an actor or crew member is in a bad situation, you don’t have the proof, or the benefit of the time to verify it,” Furst said.
“You can adjust the schedule, you can collect internal reporting and you can assign a handler to make sure that that individual is being taken care of as best as they can.”
Furst added that after filming wrapped, he kept in touch with Panettiere’s team and “what eventually got determined was that she might need an intervention and I got asked to participate.”
“I said yes, and that intervention did not happen, at least not that I’m aware of, and I wasn’t leading the charge on that and it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me,” Furst added.
Furst also spoke about Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who joined her on set while filming and who was also with her when she died despite their turbulent relationship.
“All I know about that is what we observed and wrote down at the time that it happened, with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson,” Furst said. “I wasn’t in South Carolina, I don’t know what happened, but what I will say is my opinion, and it’s about what I saw on my own set, somebody fighting to stay sober and who deserved better company around them than what I observed … I was very lucky to work with Hayden. I wish she was still here.”
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 15:05
Hayden Panettiere’s friend shares her final text: ‘That was you in a nutshell’
Musician Clayton Johnson has shared the final text Hayden Panettiere sent him, as he paid tribute to the actor.
Johnson, who shared a video of himself singing with Panettiere, wrote on Instagram: “More than anything, I hope you’re at peace now and reunited with Jansen.” Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen, died aged 28 in 2023 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Johnson said the last message Panettiere sent him, a few weeks after their last phone call, was: “Honestly, people think it’s a joke to ask for world peace, but that would be me.”
“That was you in a nutshell,” he wrote. “I’m grateful I got to know you, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories. Fly high, Hayden.”
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 14:38
Hayden Panettiere would have turned 37 today
Panettiere was days shy of her 37th birthday when she died Sunday.
A cause of death is still being investigated.
She leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, shared with her ex-fiance, Wladimir Klitschko.
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 14:12
Hayden Panettiere’s ‘Nashville’ co-star pays tribute
“Hayden was a special soul and a very deep river. If she trusted you she was completely unguarded, genuinely curious, generous and a complete goof ball. Spending time with her was always an adventure,” wrote Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Judith Hoag in an Instagram post.
“Hayden deserved so much better than she got. She was on the road to recovery and whatever happened in the end… I know she’s at peace now.
“I dearly hope our soul paths cross again in the eternal by and by.”
Caitlin Hornik21 August 2026 13:51
Hayden Panettiere was a passionate advocate of Ukraine
Panettiere’s daughter moved to Ukraine to live with her father, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, in 2018, when Russia had illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and separatist forces were fighting Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region.
When Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February 2022, Klitschko, whose brother Vitalii is the mayor of Kyiv and also a former boxing champion, enlisted in the army. Kaya, the outlet reported, was not in Ukraine from the early days of the war.
Panettiere posted repeated messages of solidarity with Ukraine on Instagram in the years that followed.
“I have personally witnessed the strength of the Ukrainian people who fought so hard for their independence and have continued to passionately defend their country over the years. What Putin is doing is an absolute disgrace!,” she wrote on Instagram shortly after the invasion.
“This horrific moment in history sends a terrifying message: the message that in this day and age, in year 2022, it’s okay to violate the rights of free people and allow autocrats like Putin to take whatever they please,” she added.
Jacob Stolworthy21 August 2026 13:08
‘We made her feel unsupported’: Neutrogena responds after Hayden Panettiere’s death
Neutrogena has addressed criticism over its treatment of Hayden Panettiere, saying it understands that the actor felt “unsupported” during a difficult period in her life.
The skincare brand said in a statement on Thursday: “We are deeply saddened by Hayden Panettiere’s passing. For more than a decade, Hayden was a valued member of our Neutrogena community.”
“We are proud to have partnered with her and understand that we made her feel unsupported during a very difficult time,” it continued. “This is not what Neutrogena stands for or who we want to be.”
Neutrogena vowed to make a “significant investment to a long-standing community health partner” to support women’s health causes and promised to share more details “when plans are in place.”
Panettiere wrote in her memoir that Neutrogena cancelled her long-standing contract in 2015 after she spoke publicly about her postpartum depression. In a May interview with Jay Shetty, she said: “Of all the things that they would fire me over, this is the last thing that I thought they would ever fire me for.”
Jacob Stolworthy21 August 2026 12:47
Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother died in 2023
Hayden Panettiere’s younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, died in February 2023 at the age of 28 due to complications with his heart.
Jansen had an undiagnosed enlarged heart, as well as aortic valve complications.
His sudden death was extremely painful for Hayden, who told People in 2024: He was my only sibling, and it was my job to protect him.”
“When I lost him, I felt like I lost half of my soul,” she said.
Jacob Stolworthy21 August 2026 11:24
