Zach Hickerson is an American healthcare staffing professional and church leader who came into wider public attention through his connection to actress Hayden Panettiere and his brother, Brian Hickerson. In August 2026, Zach was present when Panettiere was found unresponsive at a rental property in Greenville, South Carolina. He called emergency services, and news coverage later focused on his account of the efforts to save her.
Away from the headlines, Hickerson has been associated with healthcare staffing and the founding of Acts 321, a non-denominational church in Nashville, Tennessee. His background includes studying at Furman University in South Carolina and spending several years in corporate employment before pursuing ministry full-time. Although public interest in him has grown because of recent events, much of his personal history remains outside the public record.
Who Is Zach Hickerson?
Zach Hickerson is an American professional known publicly for his work in healthcare staffing and Christian ministry. He is the brother of Brian Hickerson, who was in an on-and-off relationship with Hayden Panettiere beginning in 2018.
Hickerson is not primarily known as an actor, musician or television personality. His public profile has instead developed through his professional activities and his association with people in the entertainment world.
He has been described as a healthcare staffing executive and the founder of Acts 321, a non-denominational church based in Nashville. His church biography also describes a transition from corporate employment to full-time ministry.
In 2026, media attention increased substantially after Panettiere’s death in South Carolina and the subsequent release of information about the emergency response. The circumstances brought renewed attention to Hickerson, who has spoken publicly about his involvement in the efforts to save her.
How Old Is Zach Hickerson?
Zach Hickerson was reported to be 38 years old in August 2026. His exact date of birth has not been consistently established in widely available public biographical information.
Because a reliable, independently confirmed birth date is not readily available, claims giving his precise birthday should be treated cautiously.
Where Is Zach Hickerson From?
Hickerson is originally from South Carolina, according to published biographical reporting. His education and later professional activities have connected him with the state as well as Nashville, Tennessee.
He attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. The university is part of his documented educational background, although detailed information about his childhood, early family life and school years is limited in public sources.
His later move into ministry brought him into Nashville’s religious community, where he became associated with Acts 321.
Zach Hickerson’s Education
Hickerson graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Public information about his education identifies the university but does not provide a consistently documented account of his academic specialization, graduation year or additional qualifications.
His education preceded a period in corporate employment. According to his church biography, he spent five years working in the corporate world before deciding to pursue ministry full-time.
This transition became an important part of the professional story presented by Acts 321, reflecting a shift from business-oriented work to church leadership.
Zach Hickerson’s Career
Work in Healthcare Staffing
Hickerson has been described publicly as a vice president in healthcare staffing. This places his professional background in a sector that connects healthcare organizations with the workers needed to provide medical and related services.
Healthcare staffing businesses can support hospitals, clinics and other employers by helping recruit and place qualified personnel. However, detailed public information about Hickerson’s employer, specific responsibilities, career history and business achievements is limited.
It is therefore more accurate to describe his work by the professional role reported in public coverage rather than attribute particular companies, financial interests or accomplishments to him without confirmation.
Founding Acts 321
Another major part of Hickerson’s public profile is Acts 321, described as an independent, non-denominational church in Nashville.
His church biography states that after five years in corporate America, he chose to pursue ministry full-time. The organization is a central part of his documented religious work.
Beyond this broad background, detailed information about the church’s founding date, membership, finances and the full scope of Hickerson’s responsibilities is not consistently available in public reporting. Those details should not be assumed without direct confirmation from the organization.
Interest in Golf
Hickerson has also been described as an avid golfer. In August 2026, reporting on his social media activity noted that he had posted a video of himself practicing at a driving range in Atlanta earlier that month.
Golf is a personal interest rather than a major component of his public professional identity. There is no reliable basis to describe him as a professional golfer or to attribute competitive achievements to him.
Zach Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere
Hickerson became a subject of entertainment news because he knew Hayden Panettiere through his brother, Brian Hickerson. Panettiere was an actress known for television series including Heroes and Nashville, as well as films such as Remember the Titans and Bring It On: All or Nothing.
Brian and Panettiere began dating in 2018, and their relationship continued intermittently over the years. Zach was part of the wider social circle around the relationship and was reported to have known Panettiere for several years.
Public reporting also described a period when Panettiere and Zach were seen together while she and Brian were apart. Those reports did not establish that Zach and Panettiere were in a romantic relationship, and it would be inaccurate to present such a claim as fact.
Their connection became a major subject of news coverage in August 2026 because Zach and Brian were both at the Greenville property where Panettiere was found unresponsive.
What Happened to Hayden Panettiere in August 2026?
Hayden Panettiere died on August 16, 2026, at the age of 36. She was found unresponsive at a rental property in Greenville, South Carolina, where Zach and Brian Hickerson were also present.
According to Zach’s public account, he had tried to contact Brian and Panettiere after leaving church. When he could not reach them, he drove to the property. After discovering Panettiere unresponsive, he called 911.
Zach said that Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, and that the two men performed CPR while following the emergency dispatcher’s instructions. Emergency personnel arrived and continued attempts to revive Panettiere, but she could not be saved.
A police report described Zach as visibly emotional while first responders worked on Panettiere. The initial police investigation did not indicate signs of foul play, although authorities continued to examine the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office subsequently identified the cause of death as the toxic effects of multiple substances and classified the death as accidental. Reporting on the case has included information from official records and statements made by people connected to the investigation.
The available public information does not establish that Zach caused or contributed to Panettiere’s death. His documented role in the emergency response should be distinguished from speculation circulating online.
Zach Hickerson’s 911 Call and Latest News in 2026
On October 14 and 15, 2026, news organizations reported on audio from the 911 call made after Panettiere was found unresponsive. The recording offered additional insight into the emergency response and the instructions given to Zach during the call.
The audio captured his distress as he sought guidance from the dispatcher. Emergency personnel were sent to the property, where attempts to revive Panettiere continued.
The recording renewed public attention on Zach because he was the person who called for emergency assistance. It also brought further scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death, which had already prompted extensive media coverage.
Zach had spoken publicly in August about the incident, saying that he and Brian tried to help Panettiere and asking people to avoid speculation while more facts became available. His public comments focused on the loss and the need for accurate information.
As of October 15, 2026, the release of the 911 audio is among the most recent developments in the public account of the incident. Any additional claims about responsibility, motives or events that have not been established by reliable evidence should be treated as unconfirmed.
Zach Hickerson’s Family
Zach Hickerson’s best-documented family connection is his relationship with his brother, Brian Hickerson. The two were together in South Carolina when Panettiere was found unresponsive in August 2026.
Beyond that relationship, publicly available information about Zach’s parents, wider family, marital status and children is limited. It would be inappropriate to fill those gaps with unverified claims from social media or entertainment gossip.
His brother’s past relationship with Panettiere has drawn significant attention, but that coverage does not establish further details about Zach’s own private life.
Is Zach Hickerson Married?
Zach Hickerson’s marital status has not been reliably established in widely available public information. There is insufficient verified evidence to identify a wife or confirm a marriage.
Claims about a spouse or romantic partner should therefore be treated cautiously unless Hickerson or a reliable source confirms them.
What Is Zach Hickerson Known for?
Hickerson is known publicly for three main aspects of his life: his work in healthcare staffing, his involvement with Acts 321 in Nashville, and his connection to the family of Brian Hickerson.
His public profile changed significantly in August 2026, when he called emergency services after finding Hayden Panettiere unresponsive. The later release of the 911 audio brought renewed attention to his actions during the emergency.
Although much of the recent coverage has centered on Panettiere’s death, it does not provide a complete picture of Hickerson’s personal or professional life. His career outside the headlines remains only partly documented in public sources.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zach Hickerson
Who is Zach Hickerson?
Zach Hickerson is an American healthcare staffing professional and church leader. He is the brother of Brian Hickerson and the founder of Acts 321, a non-denominational church in Nashville.
How old is Zach Hickerson?
He was reported to be 38 years old in August 2026. His exact birth date has not been consistently confirmed in public biographical information.
Where is Zach Hickerson from?
He is originally from South Carolina and attended Furman University in Greenville.
What does Zach Hickerson do for a living?
He has been described as a vice president in healthcare staffing. He is also associated with Acts 321, a church in Nashville, where he pursued ministry after several years in corporate employment.
Who is Zach Hickerson’s brother?
His brother is Brian Hickerson, who had an on-and-off relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere.
What is Acts 321?
Acts 321 is described as an independent, non-denominational church in Nashville, Tennessee. Hickerson is identified as its founder.
What is Zach Hickerson’s connection to Hayden Panettiere?
He knew Panettiere through his brother, Brian. Zach and Brian were present at the Greenville rental property where she was found unresponsive on August 16, 2026.
Did Zach Hickerson call 911 for Hayden Panettiere?
Yes. According to his account and reporting on the emergency response, he called 911 after finding Panettiere unresponsive. He said that he and Brian attempted CPR while following the dispatcher’s instructions.
What happened in Zach Hickerson’s 911 call?
Audio reported in October 2026 captured Zach asking for help after discovering Panettiere unresponsive. The dispatcher provided instructions while emergency services were sent to the property.
Is Zach Hickerson an actor?
He is not primarily known as an actor. Public reporting identifies him as a healthcare staffing professional and church leader.
Conclusion
Zach Hickerson’s public profile combines a professional background in healthcare staffing with his work in Christian ministry. A graduate of Furman University, he spent several years in corporate employment before pursuing ministry full-time and becoming associated with Acts 321 in Nashville.
His name has received much wider attention because of his connection to Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere. The August 2026 emergency at the Greenville rental property, followed by the release of 911 audio in October, placed him at the center of intense media interest.
The most responsible account of his life separates verified information from speculation. His professional background and church involvement are documented, while many details about his private life remain unknown. In discussing the circumstances of Panettiere’s death, the available evidence supports describing his reported actions during the emergency without drawing conclusions that have not been established by authorities.