Celebrity2 min(s) read
Hayden Panettiere's official cause of death has been revealed.
The late actress died on August 16 in Greenville, South Carolina, just days before what would have been her 37th birthday.
Panettiere was best known for roles in Heroes, Nashville, Scream 4, and Scream VI.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to ABC News.
"It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. 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,” her father said.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed on Tuesday (September 21) that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, Xanax, and several other drugs. Her death has been ruled an accident.
"The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine," the coroner’s official statement said, per Variety. "The manner of death has been ruled accident."
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, while 4-ANPP is a chemical intermediate used in the illegal manufacture of fentanyl.
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine sold as Xanax. Methocarbamol is a prescription muscle relaxant, and quetiapine is an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Around a month after her death, Panettiere was remembered at a memorial service in Malibu attended by family, friends, and former co-stars.
Her father was among those present at Malibu Pacific Church, while several of her Nashville co-stars, including Connie Britton, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio, also attended.
Ruby Rose, Evan Ross, Beverly D'Angelo, Storm Santos, Caroline D'Amore, Cameron Richardson, and Paris Hilton also attended to pay tribute.
Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, was not at the memorial.
TMZ initially reported that Vogel had not been invited, although a source close to her later denied that claim and said she had been unable to attend because of a last-minute family emergency.
Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were also absent from the service.
