Hayden Panettiere’s final Instagram post captured a playful moment with a friend just three weeks before the Heroes and Nashville actress died at age 36.
Panettiere shared the black-and-white photo on July 27, posing alongside director and photographer Randall Slavin. “Good times and good friends @randallslavin ✨,” she wrote, according to PEOPLE.
The image showed Panettiere with her hands on Slavin’s shoulder, one eye closed and her tongue out as he wrapped an arm around her. After news of her death emerged, Slavin reshared the photograph to his Instagram Stories with the short message, “Peace be with you, H.”
Panettiere’s family confirmed her death on Aug. 16. She had spent much of 2026 back in the public eye, releasing her memoir, promoting new screen work and speaking candidly in interviews about her life after decades of growing up in entertainment.
Her Last Instagram Post Was With Randall Slavin
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The July 27 photo was the final post visible on Panettiere’s Instagram feed before her death. There was only the brief reference to good times and friendship and a tag for Slavin.
Her social media activity in the preceding months had largely followed a busy professional period. Panettiere had been sharing material connected with her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was published May 19.
On May 27, she celebrated the book reaching No. 4 on the New York Times bestseller list, thanking readers for their support and calling the experience a “wild ride.”
Panettiere Had Recently Returned to the Spotlight
This Is Me: A Reckoning gave Panettiere an opportunity to tell the story of her childhood career and adult life in her own words. She promoted the memoir through television, podcast and press appearances during the months before her death.
The book addressed subjects including the pressures of child stardom, postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, difficult relationships and the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere. Panettiere also returned to the screen in 2026 with the psychological thriller Sleepwalker, released in January. The movie became her most recent screen appearance.
Her career stretched back to childhood and eventually included Claire Bennet on Heroes, Juliette Barnes on Nashville, Kirby Reed in the Scream franchise and roles in films including Remember the Titans. Reuters reported that her performance as Juliette earned her two Golden Globe nominations, in 2013 and 2014.
In one of her final major interviews, Panettiere also spoke optimistically about what she believed was still ahead. During a May appearance on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, she said she felt she had moved beyond a period of darkness and could see new possibilities opening in front of her.
Her Cause and Manner of Death Remain Pending
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 16 after an acquaintance called 911. First responders and emergency medical personnel found her in cardiac arrest and attempted advanced life-support measures, according to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m.
The Greenville Police Department said its preliminary investigation found no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Police and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate. An autopsy was completed on Aug. 17.
The coroner said no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to Panettiere’s death. Dispatch audio obtained by news organizations included responders discussing a possible overdose around the time of the emergency call.