GREENVILLE, S.C. (Diya TV) — Actress Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and several other drugs, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.
Panettiere, 36, died Aug. 16 after emergency crews found her unresponsive at an apartment in Greenville. Paramedics performed CPR and other resuscitation efforts for more than 40 minutes before declaring her dead. An autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
The coroner identified fentanyl, 4-ANPP — a chemical associated with fentanyl — alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine in her system. Alprazolam is the generic form of Xanax, while methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant and quetiapine is used to treat several mental health conditions.
Greenville police said Tuesday that they continue to investigate Panettiere’s death. The Drug Enforcement Administration is also investigating the source of the fentanyl, according to ABC News.
Panettiere began acting as a child and became widely known for playing Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes.” She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville,” a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
In her memoir “This Is Me,” released in May, Panettiere wrote about her experiences with alcohol and drug addiction, postpartum depression and the pressures of growing up in the entertainment industry. She previously said she entered treatment while filming “Nashville.”
Panettiere’s younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, died in 2023 at age 28 from an enlarged heart. Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
