Hayden Panettiere, the actress known for her roles in "Heroes," "Nashville" and "Scream 4," died in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. She was 36. The local coroner’s office has now officially confirmed that Panettiere died from the combined toxic effects of multiple drugs, with her death ruled an accident.
According to a statement from the Greenville County Coroner's Office, fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine were found in Panettiere’s system. Alprazolam is widely known under the brand name Xanax. Officials also said the autopsy found no signs of trauma that could have contributed to her death.
Emergency services received a 911 call reporting a possible cardiac arrest at approximately 1:51 p.m. that day. First responders arrived at the residence where Panettiere had been staying and found her unresponsive. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
Police previously said their preliminary investigation uncovered no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The 911 call was placed by one of Panettiere’s friends.
Panettiere began acting at age 5 and later rose to fame with "Heroes." Her performance on "Nashville" earned her two Golden Globe nominations. She also spoke publicly about her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction before returning to the big screen in 2023’s "Scream VI." In May 2026, she published her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," offering a candid account of her childhood and life experiences.
via： Variety