Actor Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and several other drugs, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina said on September 22. Panettiere was 36.
The actor was found unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville on August 16. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation for more than 40 minutes before she was pronounced dead. An autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
According to the coroner’s statement, toxicology testing detected fentanyl and its chemical byproduct, along with alprazolam, a muscle relaxant and an antidepressant. The coroner’s office did not release further details from the autopsy report.
Panettiere’s family spokesperson said the investigation remains ongoing and described the case as complex. Greenville police have also confirmed that their investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is continuing.
Panettiere became widely known for her roles in television series including Heroes and Nashville. She began acting as a child and later built a career across television and film.
Her death has prompted renewed attention to her career and personal life, but authorities have not indicated that the death was intentional. The coroner has classified it as an accidental overdose.