Hayden Panettiere’s cause of death has been officially confirmed more than a month after the actress died at the age of 36.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office in South Carolina determined that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and several other substances, with her manner of death ruled an accident.
Coroner Confirms Fentanyl and Other Drugs
According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, Panettiere’s toxicology results showed fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine in her system. Officials stated that there were “no signs of trauma” that contributed to her death, while the manner of death was officially classified as accidental.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, while alprazolam is the generic form of Xanax. Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, and quetiapine is a prescription medication used to treat several psychiatric conditions.
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment on August 16. Emergency responders attempted advanced cardiac life support, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner’s determination establishes the medical cause and manner of death, but the wider investigation has not necessarily ended. Greenville Police confirmed that its investigation remains open, while federal authorities have reportedly been examining where drugs involved in Panettiere’s death came from.
Panettiere became widely known through roles in Heroes and Nashville, while her film credits included Remember the Titans and entries in the Scream franchise. She had also spoken publicly about addiction and recovery, including in her 2026 memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning.
Her death has prompted renewed attention to the dangers of fentanyl, particularly because the substance can be present in illicit drugs without a person’s knowledge.
