Hayden Panettiere Death

Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson completely vanished from Instagram in the wake of her death ... and it's unclear who pulled the plug.

Brian's profile was still active when Hayden's death was first reported Sunday ... but it has since disappeared. Anyone trying to visit the account is now met with an error message.

It's unclear whether Brian scrubbed or deleted the account himself -- or if Instagram removed it.

Brian's IG account previously boasted 2.8K followers.

Hayden Panettiere was "struggling" and "really lonely" on what turned out to be the final movie she ever filmed ... so says her "Sleepwalker" costar, Justin Chatwin.

Justin opened up about their connection while speaking to People ... saying they grew close while filming in 2025 because she was so real with him. He explained, "[Actors are] trained to be on, and I really liked spending time with her because she took that off, and she was authentic with me about her life and she opened up about her struggles with addiction."

The Canadian actor originally met Hayden while she was starring on "Heroes" in the mid-2000s, and then reconnected for "Sleepwalker," a psychological thriller about domestic abuse -- something Hayden had been through.

Justin told People he "could tell she was struggling," adding ... "I was like, 'I don't think it's this movie' ... There's a handful of women that I've worked with that I really liked, and I really loved working with her, but I also know that she was really lonely."

Hayden Panettiere's family has been notified by a South Carolina coroner's office that her remains are ready for release -- after the actress died of a possible drug overdose, TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Greenville County Coroner's Office tells TMZ ... they have advised Hayden's parents that her body is ready to be turned over to them.

But the rep says the family has yet to choose a funeral home ... so, for now, Hayden will stay with the coroner's office.

Brian Hickerson suffered a legal setback just days before the death of his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Hayden Panettiere ... TMZ has confirmed.

A judge denied Hickerson’s request to have his past felony domestic violence charges reduced to misdemeanors, as well as his request to expunge the convictions, according to court documents, obtained by TMZ.

The ruling came Thursday, August 13 ... just three days before Panettiere died at age 36. Hickerson pleaded no contest in April 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend following a string of incidents involving Panettiere between May 2019 and January 2020. He had originally faced an eight-count criminal case.

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson kept their rekindled romance to themselves in order to protect her career ... TMZ has learned.

A source close to Brian tells TMZ ... the couple didn't break up as many times as the public was led to believe -- and were actually together while she was promoting her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning" in the months before her death.

Our source says Hayden was advised by her team to distance herself from Brian, at least publicly, even though they were still romantic in private.

The reason ... Hayden's camp felt Brian was "bad for business" while she was promoting her book. We're told their complicated history was perceived as being bad for book sales -- but they were still in constant communication during the promotional tour.

Hayden Panettiere's costar in the hit musical drama "Nashville" Charles Esten shared a loving tribute after her shocking death ... remembering he smacked her with a door during their first meeting.

The actor took to Instagram Monday to share series of photos taken during their time working on the TV show from 2012 to 2018 ... all shots of them flashing huge smiles.

He started off his caption by writing he and his wife -- Patty Hanson -- were shocked to learn of Hayden's death ... before he launched into the story of how they met.

Hayden Panettiere packed a lot into her 36 years before her sudden and tragic death ... and TMZ is taking you back through all of her notable moments ... both good and bad.

Hayden is born in Palisades, New York -- a town just 25 miles from New York City -- to actress Lesley R. Vogel and NYC fire captain Alan Lee Panettiere. She is the first of the couple's two children.

Hayden begins her acting career early ... earning her first role in a commercial for a Playskool toy train in 1990, less than a year after her birth.

8/21/2026 11:41 AM PT -- Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson gave her Narcan after he and his brother Zach Hickerson found her unconscious ... according to a statement by Zach.

Hayden Panettiere, or someone close to her, was treated with meds typically used for overdose victims ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed, through sources in Greenville, SC, that Narcan was found in the apartment where she died. Narcan is administered nasally to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and we're told the device used to dispense it was found on a mattress.

We know first responders on the scene mentioned an "overdose" and CPR efforts while reporting back to dispatch.

However, we also know 2 ambulances rushed to the apartment, which seems to point to 2 people in distress in the apartment ... so, it's unclear who received the dose of Narcan.

Hayden Panettiere was found dead by a friend inside a South Carolina home ... and Emergency Medical Service workers responded to a call about a person in "cardiac arrest" and an "unresponsive female," TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Hayden's friend called 911 at 1:51 PM Sunday to report that the actress was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest inside the residence in Greenville, SC.

TMZ obtained the dispatch audio of responders sending medics to her location to perform CPR on someone who overdosed, which you can hear above. Page Six was first to report.

It's unclear if Hayden's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson placed the call.

We're told Greenville police officers and EMS workers quickly responded, and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Hayden using "advanced cardiac life support." Our sources say this treatment builds on CPR by adding special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking.

8/21/2026 11:41 AM PT -- Hayden Panettiere's boyfriend Brian Hickerson gave her Narcan after he and his brother Zach Hickerson found her unconscious on the day that she died ... according to a statement by Zach.

8/20/2026 11:41 AM PT -- Brian Hickerson is breaking his silence days after the death of Hayden Panettiere.

8/17/2026 6:32 AM PT -- TMZ has obtained photos of the emergency response that showed up at the scene.

8/17/2026 3:45 AM PT -- Hayden Panettiere was found dead by a friend inside a South Carolina home ... Emergency Medical Service workers responded to a call that came in of a person in "cardiac arrest" and an "unresponsive female," TMZ has learned.

8:33 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources confirm police responded to an incident involving Hayden Sunday, and there is currently an open investigation.

8:20 PM PT -- A source close to Hayden tells TMZ ... she recently had been complaining about back pain in the past year.

Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died at 36, TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Hayden passed away earlier on Sunday. We're told she and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson flew from Los Angeles to the south on Saturday. Sources tell us Brian's family is aware.

"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," her rep said in a statement to ABC News.

Hayden became a household name as a child actress before landing her breakout role as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC's "Heroes." She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on "Nashville," earning multiple award nominations for her performance.

Hayden Panettiere's autopsy showed no signs of trauma ... according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

The coroner released some details from the autopsy in a press release Monday, saying ... "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."

The rest of the release reiterates information we've already reported ... first responders arrived at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, after receiving a call about a woman in cardiac arrest Sunday.

Hayden Panettiere wasn't feeling well in the months before her death ... even needing crutches to get around at one point.

Photogs caught up with the star at LAX back in March ... she was moving gingerly and leaning heavily on the mobility devices.

Hayden told the photog she was dealing with some pinched nerves in her lower back ... and she promised she was on the mend before slowly stepping into her waiting SUV.

This clip falls right in line with what we've heard from sources ... one of whom told us she'd been complaining of back pain regularly over the past year.

Hayden Panettiere mourners continue to flood social media, honoring the late actress ... and her "Scream" co-star Emma Roberts is offering an emotional goodbye.

Hayden and Emma starred together in "Scream 4" ... and Emma's tribute post reads, "Rest in peace, my sweet friend. You are so loved, and you will be forever missed ❤️."

Emma included two snaps of them together from back in the day.

As we told you ... Hayden was found dead inside a South Carolina residence on Sunday ... and an emergency call was made for an "unresponsive female" in "cardiac arrest." The dispatch audio mentioned a possible overdose, and her autopsy showed no signs of trauma.

Before she was old enough to vote, Hayden Panettiere says someone on her team was handing her "happy pills" to get her through promotional interviews at premieres.

Hayden shared the disturbing account during a 2022 appearance on "Red Table Talk" ... and the clip is resurfacing today in the wake of her sudden death.

She recalled being 16 and feeling drained before a "Heroes" premiere when a member of her team handed her a pill to perk her up. Hayden said she didn't view it as a drug or question it because she trusted the person.

Two ambulances raced to Hayden Panettiere's death scene and rolled out stretchers, which seems to confirm what we've been hearing ... that Hayden wasn't the only one in the apartment unit.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the 2 ambulances were dispatched to the scene, although no one was wheeled out of the apartment and the ambulances left without a patient inside.

A source tells us, Hayden's on-and-off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was living in the unit with his brother. Hayden and Brian flew from L.A. to South Carolina Saturday and were both at the apartment.

Hayden Panettiere's colleague Alyson Stoner broke down in tears after learning of her death ... sharing a video on social media paying tribute to her fellow "Kingdom Hearts" star.

Alyson was very emotional in the short clip she posted Monday ... telling fans she knows she looks rough at the moment -- but asking for them to give her grace as she talks about her late friend.

She says she worked with both Hayden and Hayden's late brother, Jansen Panettiere ... and both deaths have been heartbreaking.