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Tributes to actress Hayden Panettiere as coroner finds no signs of trauma
17th August, 2026 11:33 PM
Tributes have been paid to actress Hayden Panettiere, star of the US TV shows Heroes and Nashville, following her death at age 36.
Oscar winner Viola Davis described Panettiere as an “amazing talent”, while One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy-Lenz noted how, as a young star, she had acted “like no child I’d ever seen on camera”.
Panettiere died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, and police said there were not “any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances”.
Greenville County Coroner’s Office said emergency services treated “a female in cardiac arrest” and an autopsy showed “no signs of trauma”, but that the cause of death had not been confirmed.
Greenville Police Department said officers were deployed to a report of an unresponsive female at 13:51 local time (18:51 BST) on Sunday.
“Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
They added: “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Panettiere placed the 911 call.”
In a separate statement, the coroner said “advanced cardiac life support measures” were initiated, “however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM”.
‘Unimaginable loss’
Panettiere’s death was announced by her father Skip, who said: “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.”
Panettiere’s father asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss”.
The actress played a cheerleader with superpowers in Heroes and an up-and-coming country singer in Nashville. Earlier as a child star, she had other memorable roles, including in the films Remember the Titans and Raising Helen.
Writer and producer Bryan Fuller, who penned her character’s storyline in the first season of Heroes, remembered her as “more than an actress, she was a muse”.
He said: “Wise beyond her years and already saddled with so much of a life, she left an indelible mark on me as a writer and a storyteller. Incredibly sad news.”
Viola Davis, who featured alongside Panettiere in the 2016 courtroom drama film Custody, shared a tribute on Instagram: “What an amazing talent you were… so gifted.”
Davis’s husband Julius Tennon also appeared in the film, and she noted how “Julius and I loved working with you… an old, wise soul with such a deep heart”.
Davis added: “I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming.”
Beginning her career as a child, Panettiere – whose mother, Lesley Vogel, was also an actress – was just four years old when she was cast on the popular US soap opera One Life to Live.
She voiced Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life before gaining wider recognition when she starred alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans.
She later rose to wider fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in cult sci-fi series Heroes, which ran from 2006 to 2010.
Her role as Juliette Barnes in the TV series Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
Success and struggles
Panettiere’s career spanned three decades, with roles in other hit shows and films including the Scream horror franchise and romantic comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Her Scream co-star Melissa Barrera paid tribute to the actress in an Instagram story, writing “rest in peace sweet Hayden”, alongside a broken heart emoji.
Fellow Scream films co-star David Arquette wrote: “I love you, Hayden.”
Earlier this year, Panettiere released a memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, recounting the struggles of growing up as a child actor and her experiences with addiction, abuse and later recovery.
Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya with her ex-partner, Ukrainian former world heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
