GREENVILLE, United States — American actress Hayden Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and four other substances, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina announced on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, confirming that her death had been ruled an accident.
The 36-year-old actress, known for her roles in the television series Heroes and Nashville, died on August 16 after being found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville.
The coroner’s office identified fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine as the substances responsible for her death, according to CNN.
Autopsy Findings Confirm Cause of Death
Emergency personnel responding to a 911 call found Panettiere in cardiac arrest and attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An initial post-mortem examination found no signs of physical trauma that contributed to her death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office subsequently conducted toxicology testing to establish the cause and manner of death.
The results identified the combined toxic effects of five substances, including fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, and alprazolam, a prescription medication commonly sold under the brand name Xanax.
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, while quetiapine is a prescription antipsychotic medication. The substance 4-ANPP is associated with fentanyl production.
The coroner’s ruling establishes that Panettiere’s death was accidental, although the circumstances in which she obtained or consumed the substances have not been fully established publicly.
Investigation Into Actress’s Death
Before the toxicology results were released, investigators had been examining whether Panettiere obtained illicit or counterfeit medication from a drug dealer in Southern California.
According to earlier reporting by CNN, federal agents and authorities in the Los Angeles area questioned several people as part of the investigation.
The inquiry included the possibility that the actress had unknowingly taken a counterfeit pill containing a substance different from what she believed she was consuming.
The coroner’s findings did not establish the source of the drugs or confirm whether counterfeit medication was involved.
Panettiere had publicly discussed her previous struggles with alcohol and substance use, including in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
Her acting career began in childhood, and she later gained widespread recognition for portraying Claire Bennet in Heroes and country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville. She also appeared in the Scream film franchise.
She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with her former fiancé, Ukrainian former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
