Actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and several other drugs, according to an autopsy by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina.
The 36-year-old actress was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville on August 16. Emergency responders attempted advanced cardiac resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner’s report identified fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam (Xanax), methocarbamol and quetiapine in her system. Her death was classified as an accident, and the autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her struggles with substance abuse and recovery. Earlier this year, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she discussed her experiences with addiction and postpartum depression.
Despite the coroner’s ruling, the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation. Greenville Police said their investigation is still active, while the family’s publicist described the case as complex.
Panettiere began acting as a child and went on to gain international recognition through television and film, including her roles as Claire Bennet in Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville.
