Hayden Panettiere revealed ‘future plans’ weeks before death: ‘I have a lot more life left’ – WATCH |

Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in ‘Heroes’, passed away tragically on Sunday, August 16, just days before her 37th birthday.

Hayden Panettiere’s father confirms her demise

Panettiere’s death was made public by her father, who said in a statement, “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.“The actor was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon after emergency personnel responded to a call at a home in Greenville, South Carolina, regarding an “unresponsive female”, according to local police. “At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death. The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies. This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time,” police said in a statement to Today.com.Authorities have confirmed that there were “no signs of foul play” or “suspicious circumstances” leading to her death.

Hayden Panettiere’s interview weeks before death goes viral

News of her tragic demise comes just weeks after the actress, made an appearance on a May 2026 episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. Panettiere spoke candidly about the struggles she had faced in recent years, including her battle with alcohol and substance use, postpartum depression and the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, in 2023.Speaking about her state of mind at the time, the actor said she had previously felt “miserable” and was “in tears all the time”. She also acknowledged using alcohol to cope with what she was going through.

Hayden Panettiere: ‘I have a lot more life to live’

However, during the podcast appearance, Panettiere said she finally felt she was moving beyond that difficult period.“I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,” she said. “I’ve closed one door and another door is opened,” the Nashville alum added. “I feel like I have a lot more life to live.”Panettiere also teased “exciting possibilities” about her future.

Hayden Panettiere on battling depression

The actor had previously spoken about experiencing severe postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in 2014. She ultimately made the difficult decision for Kaya to primarily live with her father, former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Hayden Panettiere on her strugle with addiction

She also opened up about her struggle with addiction. “I was on top of the world and I ruined it,” she said in an interview with PEOPLE. Panettiere revealed that she was just 15 when someone on her team began to offer her “happy pills” before she walked the red carpets. “They were to make me peppy during interviews,” says Panettiere. “I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction.“Panettiere was drinking alcohol and occasionally taking opioids, but meanwhile, her career was flourishing. “My saving grace is that I couldn’t be messy while on set and working,” says the star, who landed the role of superpowered cheerleader Claire Bennet on Heroes when she was 16. “But things kept getting out of control [off set]. And as I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn’t live without.“