Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental drug overdose involving five substances, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office has confirmed.
The 36-year-old, best known for portraying cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes and country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, passed away on August 16 at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina.
A spokesperson for the coroner’s office stated: “The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine. The manner of death has been ruled an accident.”
The case has now been administratively closed by the coroner’s office, bringing official confirmation roughly one month after the American actress was found dead.
Hayden Panettiere died at the age of 36
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GETTYA board-certified forensic pathologist carried out the post-mortem examination, which revealed no evidence of trauma that could have played a role in her death.
Emergency services discovered Ms Panettiere unresponsive at a flat where she had been staying temporarily on August 16.
Paramedics attempted to revive her, but she was declared dead at the scene.
Her on-and-off partner, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach were both present at the property when she was pronounced dead.
The actress was found unresponsive at a property in South Carolina in August
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REUTERSMr Hickerson’s solicitor, Sloan Ellis, said in a statement on August 20: “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.
“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
Among the substances detected was fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid significantly more potent than heroin.
The chemical 4-ANPP is a key precursor ingredient in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl.
The actress was best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville
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Alprazolam, marketed under the brand name Xanax, is prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, whilst Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant typically used for short-term pain relief.
Quetiapine, sold as Seroquel, is an antipsychotic medication prescribed for conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
Sources previously told TMZ that investigators believed Ms Panettiere had ingested a single oxycodone tablet contaminated with fentanyl.
Reports indicated she had purchased multiple drugs in Los Angeles before travelling to South Carolina the day prior to her death.
Ms Panettiere’s career began in childhood with roles in soap operas before she voiced the character Dot in Pixar’s 1998 animated feature A Bug’s Life.
Her breakthrough came with the 2000 sports film Remember the Titans opposite Denzel Washington.
Her portrayal of Juliette Barnes across six series of Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress, whilst her musical performances generated 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
Ms Panettiere shares daughter Kaya with former boxer Wladimir Klitschko
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Additional film roles included Bring It On: All or Nothing, Raising Helen, and the horror sequels Scream 4 and Scream VI.
The actress had previously spoken openly about battling addiction during her twenties, a subject she explored in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.
She is survived by her 11-year-old daughter Kaya, whose father is former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, to whom Panettiere granted full custody in 2018.