Heroes star Hayden Panettiere died from 'toxic' mix of drugs, including fentanyl: coroner's report

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The recent death of actor Hayden Panettiere has been ruled accidental and attributed to "toxic effects" of a mix of drugs, including fentanyl, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

Coroner's office rules actor's August death an accident

Jessica Wong · CBC News

· Posted: Sep 22, 2026 11:57 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

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An image of a young woman appears on a large screen onstage, as a man sings and plays guitar for an audience, in shadow, beneath.

The recent death of Hayden Panettiere has been ruled accidental and attributed to "toxic effects" of a mix of drugs, including fentanyl, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

The actor, known for roles in TV shows like Heroes and Nashville, died on Aug. 16 at a Greenville, S.C., residence where she'd been staying.

Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders had found Panettiere in cardiac arrest and were unsuccessful with their resuscitation efforts, according to the office.

Following a joint investigation by the office alongside the Greenville City Police Department, "the cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine," the office confirmed to CBC News in an official statement on Tuesday.

Quetiapine is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression and Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders as well as anxiety caused by depression.

Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant, while 4-ANPP is a compound linked to the production of fentanyl, a powerful opioid.

WATCH | Hayden Panettiere dead at 36:

Heroes, Nashville star Hayden Panettiere dead at 36

Hayden Panettiere, star of popular television series including Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip, announced the actor's death in a statement on Sunday, though a cause of death has yet to be announced by the family.

During the autopsy, "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death," the statement added.

The television and film performer, who died days ahead of her 37th birthday, had openly discussed personal struggles with early fame, addiction and mental health, including postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2014.

Panettiere spoke and wrote candidly about her life, including in interviews and in her recent memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.

WATCH | Tributes flow after death of Hayden Panettiere:

Tributes pour in for Hayden Panettiere after her death at 36

Fans and co-stars mourned the death of 36-year-old actor Hayden Panettiere, best known for roles in Heroes and Nashville. Police are investigating the cause of her death, but said there are no signs of foul play.

Her death unleashed a flood of tributes and remembrances from co-stars and fans.

It also revived an earlier backlash against skincare company Neutrogena, for whom Panettiere had served as a global brand ambassador and pitchwoman for nearly a decade before the birth of her daughter.

She had alleged the company dropped her after she began speaking openly about her struggle with postpartum depression.

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