Information about the shocking death of Nashville and Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere is slowly trickling out. She reportedly passed away on Sunday, August 16, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. Panettiere would have turned 37 in just five days on Friday, August 21. According to a media release from the Greenville, South Carolina, Police Department, foul play was allegedly not a factor in the popular star's death.
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Greenville Police Department Issues a Brief Media Release About Panettiere's Death
In a statement posted on their web site on Monday, August 17, at 12:00 a.m., the Greenville Police Department explained the following. "On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1:51 PM, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road. Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene."
Furthermore, the statement said, "The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner's Office. The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release."
There Is an Investigation Underway and an Autopsy Will Reportedly Be Performed
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Hayden Panettiere's publicist, Kasey Kitchen, "said an investigation was ongoing." Additionally, according to TMZ, an autopsy will be done on August 17 "to determine a cause and manner of death."
Gayle King Interviewed the Actress in May
King spoke to Panettiere on CBS Mornings when she was publicizing her revealing new book, This Is Me: A Reckoning. The host sadly observed, "When she was here in the studio that day, and I was talking to her off-camera, she was saying that she felt that she was in a good place."
Nevertheless, King also added, "But she was still, clearly still struggling. To wake up and hear this news was really tough. She was so good. She would've turned 37 on Friday."
