Actor Hayden Panettiere’s cause of death has been revealed as an accidental overdose involving several drugs, including fentanyl. According to The Associated Press, Panettiere, 36, had been in rehab just weeks before her death.
The actress, known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and more, was found unresponsive on Sunday, Aug. 16, in South Carolina. Her past boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach, were in the apartment with her.
A combination of fentanyl, alprazolam (Xanax), the muscle relaxant methocarbamol and the antipsychotic quetiapine were found in Panettiere’s system, according to a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.
In addition to her acting work, Panettiere was a longtime advocate for whales and dolphins. In 2007, at age 18, she travelled to Taiji, Japan, to protest the annual dolphin hunts, paddling into the cove with a group of activists and surfers. The confrontation with fishermen was later featured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove. Panettiere also became an international spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation and its Save the Whales Again! campaign, which advocates for the protection of whales.
Panettiere was also a vocal supporter of shark conservation and the work of filmmaker and environmental activist Rob Stewart. She became a fan of Stewart’s 2006 documentary Sharkwater, which examined the threats facing sharks, and the two later became friends. She supported his subsequent films, Revolution and Sharkwater Extinction, and became a Sharkwater Ambassador. She also attended the Hollywood premiere of Sharkwater Extinction in 2019, where she praised Stewart’s work and its impact on shark conservation.
We know what the real cause of death was.....Hollywood.
What a shame! She was so talented! R.I.P.
What a shame. She was such a talented actress. I enjoyed her in Nashville and I’ve watched her in Racing Stripes with my grandson. RIP Hayden
She suffered from Hollywood as well as horrible Post Partum Depression, which may have been exacerbated by Neutrogena when they dropped her as ambassador after spoke about it. PPD is horrible, the lack of connection she had with her daughter for a long time may have led to her dealing with the feelings of guilt and pain with psych medications and illicit drugs. Both were found in her system. Hopefully, her family, incl her daughter, can find peace. Rest in peace, Hayden.
She Doesn't Matter. Talk About Something That Does. Not Some Narcissistic Loser Who Put Drugs Before Her Child and Now Every Loser Chick Just Like Her Is Making Excuses. Since, Excuses Are ALL Women Have.
All These NORMAL Clueless Women Just Pointing Fingers. Like They Do For Everything Wrong and Bad They Bring On Themselves and Then Play Victim.
I thought she was incredibly talented and beautiful, and she stood out to me in Nashville. I was so sad to see it was her that was gone. She was such a vital force; sorry to hear prescribed medicine and maybe some other stuff got to her; if she could have only gotten through it, she had a long, wonderful life to live. She was so young, she needed more time to come to grips with the traumas she was facing.
I was so sorry such a young, beautiful, & talented lady ended her life. Depression is so overwhelming, one can only survive so much. Im an Er Trauma RN & see so much involving the wrong combination of drugs. Sad. Never know if this was accidental.