EXCERPT: Tributes pour in for actress Hayden Panettiere after her death at 36, as coroner finds no signs of trauma.
American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, with authorities saying there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Panettiere died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said emergency crews responded to a report of a woman in cardiac arrest and attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at 2:32pm.
The coroner said an autopsy found “no signs of trauma”, while the preliminary police investigation found no evidence of foul play or suspicious circumstances.
Audio from emergency responders indicated that they had been called to the scene following a possible overdose, although no official cause of death has been released.
Panettiere’s death was announced by her father, Skip, who described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought “immeasurable love and joy” to those who knew her.
He asked for privacy as the family comes to terms with what he described as an “unimaginable loss.”
Tributes have since poured in from colleagues and friends across Hollywood.
Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, who starred alongside Panettiere in the 2016 film Custody, described her as an “amazing talent” and said she was “so gifted.”
Davis added that she and her husband, Julius Tennon, had loved working with Panettiere, describing her as “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.”
“I wish the world had more time with you because I had a burning curiosity about who you were becoming,” Davis said.
Panettiere’s longtime friend and One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Lenz also paid tribute, recalling her first encounters with the actress when she was still a child star.
Lenz described Panettiere as exceptionally intelligent and said she understood “scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I’d ever seen on camera.”
She added: “It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround by love. I’m sorry for every moment I didn’t reach out or check in. This can’t be real.”
Heroes writer and producer Bryan Fuller remembered Panettiere as “more than an actress, she was a muse.”
“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,” Fuller said.
Her Nashville co-star Connie Britton wrote: “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now.”
Actress Selma Blair, singer JoJo, and members of the Scream franchise also expressed their grief, while actors’ union SAG-AFTRA said its “hearts are with her daughter, family, friends & fans.”
Panettiere began her career as a child actress and was just four years old when she appeared on the US soap opera One Life to Live.
She later voiced Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life and gained wider recognition after starring alongside Denzel Washington in the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans.
Her breakthrough came with Heroes, in which she played cheerleader Claire Bennet, a character with superpowers. The series ran from 2006 to 2010.
She subsequently starred as country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, earning two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.
Her other credits included the Scream horror franchise, I Love You, Beth Cooper, Raising Helen and the third instalment of Bring It On.
Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with addiction, abuse and recovery. Earlier this year, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which chronicled her experiences growing up in the entertainment industry.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she had with her former partner, Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere also became an advocate for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, establishing the relief charity Hoplon International to provide medical kits and body armour.
Her death brings to an end a three-decade career that saw her rise from child star to one of the recognisable faces of American television.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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