Celebrity4 min(s) read
Published 16:03 17 Aug 2026 GMT
The late actress Hayden Panettiere previously shared a warning that was given by her doctor, months before her death.
Tragically, the 36-year-old actress' death was reported on Sunday (August 16), with statements from police and her family confirming the news.
Skip Panettiere, Hayden's father, said in a statement via ABC News that "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."
No cause of death was given, though authorities are working to uncover what happened before she died, with an investigation underway.
Haunting 911 audio was obtained by Page Six, indicating that “CPR [was] in progress” within minutes of the call, after Panettiere was found unresponsive at a South Carolina residence before her death.
The dispatch audio reportedly referred to an apparent “overdose,” though this has not been confirmed.
While police stated that the preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, it was reported on Sunday night that a source close to the late actress said she had recently been complaining about back pain over the course of the past year.
But according to People, the Heroes actress battled alcoholism, and it had put her on a dangerous path in life.
She spoke about her struggles in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, and revealed that just months before her death, a doctor sent her an urgent message.
Panettiere had previously developed jaundice, with a doctor warning her that if she didn't stop drinking, she would "be dead within five years."
It's been reported that her alcohol withdrawals led to points where she was hearing voices and crawling on all fours in a state of panic.
While the former child actor struggled, she worked to rebuild her life and relationships, having spoken about her only child, Kaya, in the past.
It had been just three months since the actress shared the doctor's chilling warning about her drinking habits, though no cause of death has been announced, so nothing has been confirmed.
A friend reportedly discovered Panettiere unresponsive and called emergency services at around 1:50PM local time. Responders attempted to resuscitate the actress using advanced cardiac life support and chest compressions.
While the dispatch information has prompted reports of a suspected overdose, officials have not confirmed that as Panettiere's cause of death.
Panettiere had previously spoken publicly about her experiences with alcohol addiction and postpartum depression. Earlier in 2026, she released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she discussed parts of her personal life and recovery.
Before her death, Panettiere spoke openly to parenting publication Mome for its July cover story about her daughter Kaya, now 11.
She also explained the decision to transfer custody to her former fiancé, Ukrainian ex-professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere and Klitschko welcomed Kaya in 2014. But several years later, while struggling with substance addiction, the actress made the difficult decision to give custody of her daughter to Klitschko.
Upon reflection, Panettiere stressed that the decision was made because she believed she had to get herself well before she could properly care for her child.
"It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make," she admitted.
"I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mom she needed me to be," Panettiere concluded.
