By Variety | Created at 2026-08-17 13:48:04 | Updated at 2026-08-17 14:09:23
1 hour ago
Hayden Panettiere‘s death is under investigation, but there were “not any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” according to police.
The “Scream” and “Heroes” star died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. The Greenville Police Department confirmed to Variety on Monday that police and EMS responded at 1:51 p.m. to a “report of an unresponsive female.”
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” a spokesperson for Greenville PD told Variety. “The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.”
The spokesperson added that “the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances” and “an acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
The cause of Panettiere’s death has not yet been confirmed, but People reported that on the dispatch audio, which the outlet obtained, officials could be heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest.” An official cause of death will be given following an autopsy.
Panettiere had been open about her struggles with alcohol and drugs over the years, and stepped away from the industry in 2016 before returning in 2023 with “Scream VI.” In May of this year, she published a memoir titled “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she wrote candidly about these struggles and the impact of growing up in Hollywood.
Viola Davis, Bethany Joy Lenz, Melissa Barrera and more celebrities paid tribute to Panettiere following the news of her death.
“I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming,” said Davis, who starred in the 2016 film “Custody” alongside Panettiere. “I saw this beautiful Phoenix rising from the ashes.”
