Panettiere died on Sunday, Aug. 16 at age 36
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NEED TO KNOW
- Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive in South Carolina on Sunday, Aug. 16
- Police stated there were no signs of foul play and the case remains under investigation by local authorities
- Panettiere was known for roles in Heroes and Nashville and recently released a memoir detailing her personal struggles
Officials are shedding light on Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death at 36 in South Carolina.
At around 1:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 16, police in Greenville, South Carolina and EMS personnel responded to a report of an “unresponsive female,” a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the spokesperson said.
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“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” they continued. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
Police noted that they are not releasing any further details at this time.
Panettiere’s longtime representative confirmed her death on Sunday, telling PEOPLE in a statement shared on behalf of her father, Alan Panettiere.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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,” it read.
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Panettiere’s professional acting career began in 1994, when she was cast in the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She went on to star in several shows and films as a child star before landing a high-profile role on Heroes as a cheerleader with self-healing powers.
From 2012 to 2018, Panettiere starred opposite Connie Britton across all six seasons of the ABC musical drama series Nashville. Following the finale of Heroes in 2010, Panettiere starred in Scream 4 (2011), and she later reprised her fan-favorite role in 2023’s Scream 6.
Earlier this year, the star — who leaves behind 11-year-old daughter Kaya with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko — released a tell-all memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, detailing her struggles growing up in the spotlight, private addiction battles and more.
“You may laugh a little, cry a little, but most importantly, you’ll hopefully finish it feeling inspired. I’ve grown so much from my experiences,” she told PEOPLE in 2024 ahead of the book’s release. “I hope that this opportunity to further elaborate on that journey may provide a little comfort for those who have faced similar challenges. I’m truly grateful for every lesson, and for the woman I have become today.”
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