Actress and singer Hayden Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, at the age of 36, according to a statement from her father, Skip Panettiere, shared with ABC News.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” the statement said. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”

Panettiere began her acting career as a child and went on to build a wide-ranging career in television and film. She appeared in Guiding Light, Remember the Titans, and Tiger Cruise before taking on some of her best-known roles in Heroes, the Scream film series, and the country music drama Nashville.

She also spoke publicly about her struggles with postpartum depression and addiction. Those experiences became a central part of her new memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was released on May 19.

Hayden Panettiere’s Final Social Media Post

In the weeks leading up to her death, several of Panettiere’s social media posts focused on her memoir and the media appearances surrounding its release.

Her final post, however, captured a much simpler moment.

On July 27, three weeks before her death, Panettiere shared a photo with her friend Randall Slavin, a director, podcaster, and producer. In the picture, Slavin has his arm around Panettiere as she winks at the camera.

“Good times and good friends @randallslavin ✨,” she wrote in the caption.

Following news of her death, fans returned to the post to share messages of shock and grief in the comments.

What We Know About Hayden Panettiere’s Death

Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, released information about Panettiere’s death on Monday, August 17.

According to the police news release, officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at the Judson Mill Lofts at 1:51 p.m. on Sunday, August 16. The woman was later identified as Panettiere and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her official cause and manner of death had not been confirmed as of press time.

Dispatch audio obtained by Country Rebel appears to provide additional information about the emergency call. A dispatcher told authorities they were responding to a reported cardiac arrest. A person responding to the dispatcher could then be heard saying, “Overdose. CPR is in progress.”

Authorities have not officially confirmed that an overdose was the cause of Panettiere’s death.

Police said a preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The case remains under investigation by the police and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved Hayden Panettiere.