Hayden Panettiere Found Dead at 36; Police Review Surveillance Footage

Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at 36 in South Carolina, with police reviewing apartment security footage as investigations continue.

Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville,' was found unresponsive on Sunday at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina, and was declared dead. Brian Hickerson, her on-again, off-again boyfriend, was reportedly present when she was declared dead. His brother Zach made the initial discovery of the unresponsive actress. Greenville Police Department have sought surveillance footage from the apartment complex, according to TMZ, which obtained a heavily redacted copy of the department's records request. The footage is described as showing Panettiere entering and exiting the building. In the weeks and months before her death, Panettiere had been active professionally. A PETA representative confirmed to Page Six that she filmed a campaign for the organization on July 22, just weeks before she died, and was described as 'wonderful' on set. Page Six also previously reported she had been dealing with severe back problems and was said to move slowly on the set of what would become her final film. Panettiere had reconnected with Hickerson in the weeks leading up to her death. Her estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, broke her silence after the death and criticized Hickerson, according to Us Magazine. Page Six separately reported that Hickerson had allegedly sent threatening texts following a 2020 arrest. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, who worked with Panettiere on 'Nashville,' called her a 'dear friend' when approached by photographers Tuesday, expressing shock at her passing. Former child star Christy Carlson Romano publicly reflected on the death, comparing early fame to lasting psychological harm. Fans have also organized a boycott of Neutrogena, a brand Panettiere had a contract dispute with, following her death.

Why it matters

Panettiere's death at 36 has prompted both a police investigation and a broader public conversation about the toll of early fame, as well as scrutiny of her relationship with Hickerson, who has a documented history of domestic violence charges involving the actress.

What's next

Police in Greenville are continuing to review surveillance footage from the apartment complex as part of their investigation into the circumstances of her death.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

All sources are entertainment outlets — TMZ and Page Six are tabloids with a history of single-sourced, sometimes unverified reporting. Key investigative details, such as the police records request, are attributed solely to TMZ. Claims about Panettiere's health on set and Hickerson's alleged threatening texts come from Page Six without named primary sources. Fan boycott and commentary pieces from Us Magazine add social reaction but no verified new facts about the death itself. No official cause of death or medical examiner findings are cited in any source.

NewsClear — neutral news & congressional tracking · Bill of the Week