American actress Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in the TV series “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died on Sunday at the age of 36, ABC News reported, citing a statement from her family. According to TMZ, shortly before the tragedy, 911 received a call regarding a suspected overdose. The actress leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter Kaya Evdokia from Ukrainian boxer Vladimir Klitschko.
Hayden's death was announced to the television channel by her father, Skip Panettiere. The cause of the actress's death is not disclosed.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the tragic death of our beloved Hayden. “She was an incredible light and force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her—and to the millions of viewers who saw her on screen,” said the actress’s father, Skip Panettiere.
According to Fox Carolina, Panettiere was found unconscious in an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency services were called by Panettiere's friend, who reported by phone that the actress was not responding to external stimuli and had suffered cardiac arrest. According to TMZ, dispatchers conveyed information to doctors about a possible overdose.
Police and paramedics arrived at 701 Easley Bridge Road around 1:51 a.m. Sunday and performed advanced CPR and chest compressions on Panettiere, but they could not save her.
The investigation is being led by city police in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner's Office. According to preliminary data, no signs of violent death were found.
In interviews with the media, Panettiere publicly spoke about her many years of struggle with alcohol addiction and depression, including after the birth of her daughter from Vladimir Klitschko in 2014.
Earlier this year, the actress released a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she shared her personal experiences with postpartum depression, domestic violence, addiction and recovery efforts. According to Panettiere, after the birth of her daughter, doctors warned her that if she did not give up alcohol, she could “die within five years.” She also admitted that she had developed an addiction to the powerful tranquilizer clonazepam.
In July, Panettiere appeared on the cover of parenting magazine Momé. In the interview, she spoke in detail about the decision to transfer custody of her daughter to her father, her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.
According to the actress, the birth almost ended in tragedy: she required seven blood transfusions and a three-hour operation. After the birth of her daughter, Panettiere began to abuse alcohol, which later developed into addiction. When the girl was two years old, the actress gave custody of her to Klitschko. Now she lives with her father in Kyiv.
In 2015, while filming Nashville, Panettiere underwent treatment at a rehab center.
Filmography and activism
Panettiere began her acting career as a child. She became one of the youngest Grammy Award nominees for voicing Princess Dot in the 1998 animated film The Adventures of Flick.
She is best known for her roles as Claire Bennett in the TV series Heroes and Juliet Barnes in the musical drama television series Nashville. For her role in “Heroes,” Panettiere received three Teen Choice Awards, and her work in “Nashville” brought her two Golden Globe nominations in the category “Best Supporting Actress.” In addition, 11 songs she recorded for the musical television series entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, writes the Associated Press.
In 2011, the actress played Kirby Reed in the film Scream 4, and years later returned to this role in the sixth part of the franchise. Her other films include A Night with Beth Cooper, Remember the Titans, Bring It On 3: All or Nothing and Fashionable Mom.
The actress also showed herself in social activities. In 2011, Washington officials recognized her efforts to support full representation in Congress by declaring September 16 “Hayden Panettiere Day.”
After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the actress created a charitable foundation to raise funds for medical supplies and protective equipment for Ukrainian military personnel. According to the actress, she had friends and relatives in Ukraine. Vladimir Klitschko's brother, Vitaliy, is the mayor of Kyiv.
