Hayden Panettiere was 36 years old at the time of her death. A friend of the actress has recently opened up about the health issues she battled before her sudden demise.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleHayden Panettiere’s death at the age of 36 has led to a lineup of tributes on social media platforms. While the actress’s cause of death is yet to be made official, details related to her last moments have started emerging. The Greenville Police Department also confirmed on August 16, 2026 (ET) that they responded to reports of an unresponsive female, whose identity was later revealed as Hayden.
Amid this, a new report has now claimed that the Scream 4 star was battling some health issues a few months before her sudden demise.
A source recently claimed that a few months before her death, Hayden Panettiere reportedly dealt with significant health problems. Her longtime hairdresser and friend Erick Orellana told Page Six that Panettiere had been struggling with back issues earlier this year.
Erick described the pain as severe, adding that it was to the point that it affected her ability to move. He said there was a period when even moving her legs became difficult for her.
Notably, Panettiere was seen in March 2026 at the LAX airport with boyfriend Brian Hickerson using crutches. At the time, she told photographers that she was having issues with pinched nerves in her lower back, and indicated she was getting better before getting into her vehicle. Furthermore, Orlenna told Page Six that Hayden appeared to be recovering.
Another source claimed that Panettiere faced additional challenges beyond her back pain. The source noted she sometimes seemed tired earlier in the year, adding that she tended to stay up late and had a lot going on.
According to the insider, she also experienced anxiety at times and would take medication for it occasionally, which could sometimes affect her speech. A separate insider said she had mentioned back pain on and off over the past year.
On August 17, 2026, the coroner’s office shared an update, saying that the autopsy had been carried out. According to coroner Mike Ellis, the examination did not find any signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death. He added that the cause and manner of death were still pending further investigation and additional testing. The case remains active, and no other details were being released at that time.
The statement also outlined what first responders found after a 911 call at about 1:51 p.m. on August 16, 2026. Officials said EMS arrived and located a woman in cardiac arrest. Advanced life support measures were started, but they were not successful, and she was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. The woman was identified as Panettiere, who was found unresponsive at a residence where she had been staying temporarily. Per TMZ, a friend of Hayden made the 911 call to report the emergency.
Hayden Panettiere’s career started in 1994 with One Life to Live, where she played 'Sarah Roberts' in 26 episodes. Four years later, Hayden made her film debut with The Object of My Affection, released in 1998.
She later gained recognition for playing important roles in shows such as Guiding Light, A Will of Their Own, Ally McBeal, Malcolm in the Middle, Heroes, Nashville, and more. Hayden even appeared as 'Kirby Reed' in Scream 4 and reprised her role in Scream VI, released in 2023.
What are your thoughts about the details related to Hayden Panettiere’s health that have recently emerged? Let us know.
Also Read: Hayden Panettiere Spoke About Hope To Live 'A Lot More' In Last Interview Months Before Her Death