American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the series "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at the age of 36. The circumstances of her death are under investigation, but U.S. media are already reporting a possible overdose, according to infohub.kz.
Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency services received a call about an unconscious woman. Paramedics found the actress in cardiac arrest and began resuscitation efforts, but they were unable to save her.
The official cause of death has not yet been determined. According to People, dispatcher recordings mentioned "overdose" and "cardiac arrest." Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, was also found at the scene. However, the overdose theory has not been officially confirmed.
The Greenville County coroner's office stated that an autopsy found no injuries that could have caused death, nor any signs of foul play. The cause and manner of death will be determined after further tests.
Panettiere's death was confirmed by her family. Her father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, said relatives are deeply shocked by the tragedy.
"With profound sorrow, we announce the tragic death of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and force, bringing immense love and joy to all who knew her and to the millions who watched her on screen," the family's statement read.
Hayden Panettiere began acting at a very young age. She appeared in the soap operas "One Life to Live" and "Guiding Light," and in 2000 she starred in the sports drama "Remember the Titans" alongside Denzel Washington.
She gained worldwide fame for her role as Claire Bennet in the sci-fi series "Heroes," which premiered in 2006. Her character was a cheerleader with the ability to regenerate.
Later, Panettiere played one of the lead roles in the series "Nashville." For her portrayal of country singer Juliette Barnes, she was nominated for a Golden Globe twice.
She also appeared in films such as "Ice Princess," "I Love You, Beth Cooper," and "Scream 4." In 2023, Panettiere reprised her role as Kirby Reed in the horror film "Scream VI."
Panettiere had a nearly nine-year relationship with former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. They met in 2009 at a party hosted by mutual friends.
The couple split in 2011 but rekindled their romance two years later. In the fall of 2013, they announced their engagement, and in December 2014, their daughter Kaya was born. The actress's daughter lives with Klitschko in Ukraine.
Panettiere also visited Kyiv and supported the Klitschko brothers during the Euromaidan protests. The couple never made it to the altar, and in 2018, Panettiere and Klitschko officially parted ways.