Hayden Panettiere seemed ‘really lonely’ in months before death, co-star says

Hayden Panettiere seemed “really lonely” and was “struggling” in the months leading up to her sudden death, her co-star Justin Chatwin has claimed.

Chatwin, 43, starred in the 2026 horror film Sleepwalker alongside Panettiere, which turned out to be her final project before her passing at age 36.

The psychological thriller is about a woman, played by Panettiere, struggling with the death of her daughter after a car accident. Chatwin said the Heroes star opened up to him on set.

“We hit it off great and it was an awesome shoot, but it was about domestic abuse and it was subject matter that may have hit close to home, because she did mention it. She opened up to me about a lot of things,” Chatwin told People.

“I could tell she was struggling, and 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.”

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Hayden Panettiere dies aged 36: ‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature’

In her personal life, Panettiere shared her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko. In 2018, while battling addiction and postpartum depression, the actress made the difficult decision to grant full custody of Kaya to Klitschko.

The actor mentioned that he had crossed paths with Panettiere earlier in his career, but this time she “seemed different.”

“I’ve been sober for 15 years, so I know this world of addiction, and Hollywood – it takes, and it takes from youth,” he added.

It’s understood that Panettiere was found unresponsive by a friend inside her apartment on Sunday (Monday AEST).

Paramedics tried to revive Panettiere, but she was pronounced dead at 2.32pm. 

TMZ reports that Narcan, a nasal spray that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found in the apartment where she died.

It is unclear if the Narcan was used to try and revive Panettiere.

Audio of the 911-emergency call, published by multiple US outlets including TMZ, revealed paramedics were called to the property over reports of an “overdose”.

A dispatcher in the audio can be heard referring to an “unidentified female” in “cardiac arrest” and within minutes “CPR [was] in progress”.

Police said there were no signs of foul play and the circumstances surrounding her death did not appear suspicious. 

An autopsy on Panettiere’s body has been completed, however an official cause of death has not been released. 

Panettiere’s father shared a statement announcing her death.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Alan ‘Skip’ Panettiere said.

“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.”

He asked for privacy as the family “takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Panettiere started her Hollywood career as a child star at the age of four, starring in the soap opera One Life to Live as Sarah Roberts.

Her career spanned working in both TV and film. She is best remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the series Heroes and as Juliette Barnes in the musical drama Nashville.

She also starred in Bring it On, Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, Scream 4 and Raising Helen.