Hayden Panettiere, the former child star who became internationally known for her roles in Heroes, Scream and Nashville, died at age 36. She was found unresponsive at a South Carolina apartment, according to authorities.

Her death has renewed attention on the actress’ career, her recently published autobiography and the difficult personal experiences she documented in the final years of her life.

Emergency responders found Panettiere after being called to the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville on Aug. 16.

Police said her on-again, off-again former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the apartment complex.

This information comes from a heavily redacted police report obtained by NBC News.

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Investigation of the Death of Hayden Panettiere Continues

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death, while the cause and manner of death remained under investigation pending toxicology results.

The circumstances have brought renewed scrutiny to Hickerson, whose relationship with Panettiere had previously been marked by domestic violence cases and allegations of abuse.

From Child Actor to Hollywood Star

Panettiere began working in entertainment as a child and built a career spanning more than two decades. Her early credits included television soap operas and films, including Remember the Titans and the animated movie A Bug's Life. She later became one of television's most recognizable young stars.

Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she was cast as Claire Bennet on NBC's science-fiction drama Heroes. The role of a seemingly ordinary cheerleader with extraordinary regenerative abilities made Panettiere a major television star.

She later took on another defining role as Juliette Barnes on ABC's country-music drama Nashville. The series ran from 2012 through 2018 and allowed Panettiere to combine acting and singing. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations.

Her film credits also included Scream 4, and she returned to the franchise in Scream VI. In 2026, she appeared in Sleepwalker, a psychological thriller from Appian Way and Verdi Productions, which she also produced.

A Memoir About Fame, Addiction and Abuse

Only months before her death, Panettiere released her autobiography, This Is Me: A Reckoning. Published May 19 by Grand Central Publishing, the 320-page memoir was billed as an unusually candid account of her life and career.

The book became an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller, according to its publisher.

In the book, Panettiere wrote about growing up in the entertainment industry, the pressures of child stardom, addiction and recovery, postpartum depression, trauma, domestic abuse, and the deaths and losses that shaped her life.

The memoir also allowed Panettiere to describe her life experience in her own words. After years of intense public scrutiny, she was finally able to explain what happened. 

She wrote about the difficulty of having her personal struggles played out in the media while simultaneously trying to maintain a professional career.

Her account of domestic abuse was particularly significant because it involved Hickerson, whom she dated beginning in 2018.

Hayden Panettiere Experienced Domestic Violence 

Panettiere's relationship with Hickerson became the subject of multiple police investigations.

In 2019, Hickerson was arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Panettiere, although that case was later dismissed.

The following year, another incident resulted in Hickerson facing multiple criminal charges. Panettiere obtained a restraining order, and prosecutors later pursued felony charges connected to violence against her.

Hickerson ultimately pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring Panettiere. He served 33 days in jail, completed domestic violence classes and was sentenced to four years of probation and a restraining order, according to recent reports.

Emotional Difficulties After Abuse

Hickerson has also acknowledged his past conduct. In a May 2026 interview, he said he had been arrested for abusing Panettiere and acknowledged that people close to her had reason to be angry with him.

Panettiere discussed the relationship in her memoir, describing the emotional difficulty of remaining connected to someone who had abused her.

Legal Issues In the Final Days of Hayden Panettiere 

Hickerson's legal history involving Panettiere had not completely disappeared by the time of her death.

Just three days before Panettiere died, a judge rejected Hickerson's request to reduce his felony domestic violence convictions to misdemeanors and have them expunged. Prosecutors opposed the request, and the judge cited the seriousness of the underlying conduct.

That proceeding is important to distinguish from a new criminal prosecution: Hickerson's convictions remained in place after the judge rejected his request.

Reports describing the matter as ongoing litigation should therefore be understood in the context of his post-conviction legal effort rather than as evidence that he was newly charged in connection with Panettiere's death.

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson Remained Friends

The two had nevertheless remained connected after their romantic relationship ended. In March 2026, Panettiere's representative said the pair were friends after they were photographed together, despite their complicated history.

The police report concerning Panettiere's death says Hickerson was present at the apartment when first responders arrived.

It does not, by itself, establish that he was responsible for her death. Authorities have said there were no signs of trauma contributing to her death, and the official cause remained pending toxicology and further investigation.

A Career Marked by Resilience

Panettiere's career was unusually complicated for someone who entered show business as a young child. She achieved fame early, became a television headliner and later used her public platform to discuss addiction, postpartum depression and domestic abuse.

Her final autobiography gave readers a more complete account of those experiences and the effort she made to reclaim her personal narrative.

Panettiere's death now leaves unanswered questions about the circumstances of her final hours, while her work in Heroes, Nashville, the Scream franchise and other productions remains part of her professional legacy.

The coroner's investigation is expected to provide additional information about her death once toxicology testing is completed.

Related Resources

• Hayden Panettiere's memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning
• NBC News report on Panettiere's death and police report
• Associated Press coverage of Panettiere's death
• Hayden Panettiere's official site and career information
• Details of Brian Hickerson's recent court ruling