Friends and family of Hayden Panettiere gathered in Malibu on Saturday, September 19, for a private celebration of life. Roughly 150 people were expected, including her father, Skip Panettiere, and Connie Britton, Evan Ross and Ruby Rose were spotted outside the service. The seaside setting was intentional: she loved marine life and spent years as an ambassador for the Whaleman Foundation.
Panettiere was found dead at 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. A coroner’s report found no signs of trauma, and an official cause of death is still pending toxicology results. Her on-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was at the scene, and the police investigation remains ongoing. Reports attributed to unnamed sources remain unverified.
The actress was best known for Heroes, Nashville and the Scream franchise, and her story touched on addiction and domestic violence in ways many fans connected with personally. If either hits close to home, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is there for anyone who needs it. What’s the Hayden Panettiere role you’ll always remember?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.