Autopsy shows Hayden Panettiere died from drug overdose
An autopsy completed by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina revealed that American actress Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax and several other drugs in her system.
According to a report by the BBC, the coroner’s office said Panettiere’s death was an accident and that no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to her death.
Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died at the age of 36 on August 16, 2026.
Panettiere began her career as a child actress and went on to become a familiar face in television and film. She gained international recognition as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes and later starred as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama series Nashville.
She is also known for her roles in Remember the Titans, Raising Helen, Ice Princess, Bring It On: All or Nothing, and Scream 4.
Panettiere died just days before her 37th birthday.
READ: Hayden Panettiere, known for ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville’, dies at 36
