What Hayden Panettiere Shared About Her Health, Addiction and Postpartum Depression Journey Before Death
Gayle King says the actress appeared upbeat on camera but was still struggling off camera while promoting her memoir about mental health and motherhood.
- Actress Hayden Panettiere died at age 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. First responders arrived following a 911 call but resuscitation efforts proved unsuccessful.
- Journalist Gayle King, 71, interviewed Panettiere three months ago for her memoir on CBS Mornings. King later observed the actress was "clearly still struggling" behind the scenes, despite Panettiere telling her privately she was in a "good place."
- In her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, released this past May, Panettiere detailed her battles with addiction and motherhood. She hoped sharing her experiences would help others facing similar challenges feel less alone.
- The Greenville County Coroner's Office reported an autopsy was completed on August 17, though the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation. Authorities noted no signs of trauma contributed to her passing.
- Panettiere, who began acting as a child, reflected on her personal evolution in her book, writing, "I never want to stop evolving and changing for the better, and I'll forever be a work in progress.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Hayden Panettiere Was 'Clearly Still Struggling' During Final Memoir Interview, Gayle King Says
Three months before her death, Hayden Panettiere sat down with Gayle King for what would become the actress' final memoir interview, insisting she was doing well. But despite Panettiere's reassuring words, King now says it was 'clearly' evident that the actress was still struggling. King's assessment comes from their off-camera conversation during the CBS Mornings interview, when Panettiere told her she was in a 'good place'. In hindsight, King …
Gayle King Recalls Interviewing Hayden Panettiere 3 Months Before Her Death, 'She Was Struggling..'
Scream franchise actress Hayden Panettiere was best known for her roles in Heroes, Nashville and more. The actress passed away at the age of 36 after she was found unresponsive at her house in Greenville, South Carolina. Now, American TV personality and broadcast journalist Gayle King revealed that the actress was struggling three months before her sudden death but claimed she is in a better place. Gayle recalled interviewing Hayden, who was cle…
Hayden Panettiere Was 'Clearly Still Struggling' Despite Claiming She Was in a 'Good Place' 3 Months Before Her Death, Says Gayle King
Gayle King said Hayden Panettiere was ‘clearly still struggling’ despite claiming she was in a ‘good place’ three months before her death.
What Hayden Panettiere Shared About Her Health, Addiction and Postpartum Depression Journey Before Death
In the years before Hayden Panettiere's tragic death at 36, she was candid about the ups and downs she faced, including on her physical and mental health journey: "I'll forever be a work in progress."
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