Hayden Panettiere battled physical pain before death, barred ex from book signing: Report

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA: Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death at 36 has brought renewed attention to her final months, health struggles, and complicated history with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson.

A new report details concerns surrounding her physical health and the precautions taken during her May book tour.

Hayden Panettiere struggled with pain before death

According to the New York Times, Panettiere was accompanied by private security during a May visit to Barnes & Noble in Manhattan, where she was promoting her memoir, 'This is Me: A Reckoning.'

She had reportedly given specific instructions that Hickerson could not attend, with security receiving “clear instructions to keep [Hickerson] away.”

Hickerson was present when Panettiere was found dead on August 16 in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Police initially announced that no foul play was suspected, while an initial autopsy found no signs of trauma.

Panettiere wrote about Hickerson in her memoir, which was released in May.

The book addresses how Hickerson was violent toward Panettiere, resulting in three arrests and some time in jail, according to The Times.

The newspaper also quoted Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, who recalled spending time with her daughter in Los Angeles a year ago “when she was in pain. She was afraid. She couldn’t physically function properly.”

Vogel took Panettiere to doctors and an acupuncturist in an effort to treat a “pins and needles” sensation in her legs that affected her ability to walk.

Panettiere had previously been open about her struggles with depression and addiction.

She told People that she was given “happy pills” at age 15. After landing Heroes at 16, she began using illicit substances and occasionally taking pain medication.

“My saving grace is that I couldn’t be messy while on set and working,” she said, adding, “But things kept getting out of control [off set]. And as I got older, the d*ugs and a**ohol became something I almost couldn’t live without.”

Hayden Panettiere’s death and Hollywood career revisited

At around 1:50 pm local time on Sunday, August 16, Greenville police and EMS personnel responded to a report of an “unresponsive female.”

Medical assistance was administered, but Panettiere was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police said the case remained under investigation in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, while the preliminary investigation had not indicated signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

An acquaintance of Panettiere placed the 911 call.

Her longtime representative confirmed her death on behalf of her father, Alan Panettiere, who described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature” who brought “immeasurable love and joy” to those who knew her and to millions who watched her onscreen.

Following her death, Melissa Gilbert called for better protections for child actors.

In a Substack essay, Gilbert questioned how mainstream media had not focused on the deaths of Panettiere, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Daveigh Chase, writing that three former female child actors of the same generation had died “tragically, heartbreakingly, agonizingly too soon.”

Panettiere’s acting career began in 1994 with 'One Life to Live.' She later became widely known for 'Heroes,' playing a cheerleader with self-healing powers.

After the series ended in 2010, she starred in 'Scream 4' in 2011 and reprised her role in 'Scream 6' in 2023.

From 2012 to 2018, Panettiere starred opposite Connie Britton across all six seasons of ABC’s musical drama 'Nashville.'