American actress Hayden Panettiere died on Sunday, August 16, after suffering a cardiac arrest at a Greenville, South Carolina apartment, according to 911 dispatch audio obtained by The Post. The 36-year-old Palisades, New York native was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., just five days before her 37th birthday.
Emergency Call and Response
An unidentified friend of Panettiere called 911 at 1:51 p.m. to report an “unresponsive female” in “cardiac arrest,” according to the dispatch audio. Paramedics on the scene attempted to resuscitate her with “advanced cardiac life support,” which can include breathing tubes, defibrillators, and emergency medications such as IV drugs.
Minutes later, a different EMT indicated they were responding to a possible “overdose” at the same address, with “CPR in progress.” The identity of the caller has not been confirmed, though police stated she was found by an “acquaintance” without revealing further details.
Circumstances and Investigation
Panettiere had flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson on Saturday, according to reports, but it remains unclear if he was the person who found her. Authorities said there were no “signs of foul play,” and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
The actress’s death comes just three months after the release of her candid memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she detailed her battles with alcohol and opioid addiction, postpartum depression, domestic abuse, and the pressures of growing up in Hollywood.
Career and Legacy
Panettiere began working as a baby, appearing in commercials at just 11 months old, and later landed roles on the soap operas “One Life to Live” and “Guiding Light.” At age 9, she became one of the youngest actors to receive a Grammy nomination for voicing Princess Dot in the 1998 animated film “A Bug’s Life.”
She appeared in “Remember the Titans” at age 10 and became a household name as Claire Bennet on the NBC series “Heroes,” which premiered in 2006. Her filmography also includes Disney’s “Ice Princess,” “Racing Stripes,” “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” and “I Love You, Beth Cooper.”
Struggles with Addiction and Health
In 2022, Panettiere revealed she was just 15 when she was offered “happy pills” before red carpet events. “They were to make me peppy during interviews,” she told People. “I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction.”
She also battled postpartum depression after welcoming her daughter Kaya, whom she shared with then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko in December 2014, and checked into rehab in October 2015. She returned to rehab in 2020, spending eight months in treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. In her memoir, she recalled doctors warning her that she risked death within five years if she did not stop drinking.
The autopsy results are expected to provide further clarity on the cause of death, as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding her cardiac arrest.
