Brian Hickerson is a real estate investor and aspiring actor from South Carolina who moved to Los Angeles. He is best known for his turbulent, on-and-off relationship with late actress Hayden Panettiere, which lasted from 2018 until 2020 and was heavily marked by public accounts and charges of domestic abuse. Here’s everything you need to know about Brian Hickerson, his life, career, relationship with Hayden Panettiere, and more.
Who is Brian Hickerson?
Brian Hickerson is an aspiring actor and real estate agent who is primarily known for his highly publicised, tumultuous on-and-off relationship with the late actress Hayden Panettiere.
Brian Hickerson Age
Brian Hickerson is 36 or 37 years old. He was born in 1989 in South Carolina.
Brian Hickerson Relationship with Hayden Panettiere
The relationship between Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere was a highly publicised, turbulent, and on-and-off romance that began in 2018 and remained complex until her passing in August 2026.
The pair began dating in August 2018, shortly after Panettiere ended her long-term engagement with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Though initially seen as a fresh start, the relationship quickly turned volatile. In May 2019, Hickerson was arrested on felony domestic violence charges after a physical altercation with Panettiere. Those specific charges were later dismissed because prosecutors could not secure a key witness.Â
Brian Hickerson Career
Brian Hickerson is an aspiring actor and real estate agent. Hickerson moved to Los Angeles from South Carolina to work in the real estate sector. He has worked as a real estate agent and property manager, focusing on the luxury market in Southern California.
His entertainment career is limited. His only notable on-screen credit is a minor role as “Officer Hickerson” in the 2017 independent thriller film M.F.A.
Brian Hickerson Net Worth
Brian Hickerson’s personal net worth is not publicly verified, as he is not a prominent public figure outside of his past relationship with the late actress Hayden Panettiere.
Brian Hickerson Family
Brian Hickerson’s immediate family is based primarily in South Carolina, where he was raised before moving to Los Angeles. Unlike high-profile celebrities, his family members are private citizens, though some specific details have emerged through public legal records and recent news.
Father (David Hickerson) lives in South Carolina. He briefly became a subject of media coverage in October 2018 following a domestic disturbance call. Local police responded to an incident where Brian Hickerson had engaged in a physical altercation with his father, leaving David with visible injuries.
Brian Hickerson Wife
Brian Hickerson has never been married and does not have a wife.
Brian Hickerson Domestic Violence Convictions
Brian Hickerson has two felony convictions for domestic violence stemming from his abusive relationship with actress Hayden Panettiere.
In April 2021, Hickerson pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant. As part of a plea deal that dismissed several other charges, he was sentenced to:
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45 days in a county jail (which he served in May 2021)
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Four years of formal probation
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Five years of a criminal protective order prohibiting him from coming near Panettiere
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Mandatory attendance in a 52-week domestic violence survivor class
Brian Hickerson: History of Arrests and Incidents
The felony convictions followed a long, documented pattern of physical abuse spanning multiple states:
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May 2019 (Los Angeles): Hickerson was arrested for felony domestic violence after a physical altercation left Panettiere with visible injuries. This case was eventually dismissed because prosecutors could not secure a key witness.
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February 2020 (Jackson, Wyoming): He was arrested on Valentine’s Day and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after punching Panettiere in the face.
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July 2020 (Los Angeles): Hickerson was hit with an eight-count criminal complaint detailing multiple instances of domestic violence, assault, and regular intimidation occurring between 2019 and 2020. This complaint directly led to his April 2021 felony convictions.
Brian Hickerson Reconnection and Memoir
Following his release from county jail in 2021, Brian Hickerson and Hayden Panettiere reconnected, a decision that drew intense public scrutiny. This period of reconciliation culminated in Panettiere’s raw look at the abuse in her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning.
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The Reconnection (2021–2025)
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The 2026 Memoir: This Is Me: A Reckoning
Brian Hickerson Professional Life
Brian Hickerson’s professional life is divided between the luxury real estate sector and a brief pursuit of an entertainment career in Los Angeles.
Hickerson moved to Southern California from South Carolina to work in the real estate industry. He has worked as a real estate agent and property manager, primarily focusing on high-end properties in the Los Angeles area.
Public legal records from past court proceedings revealed that he registered a business named Hickerson Property, through which he operated as a self-employed property coordinator.
Hickerson attempted to transition into the entertainment industry, but his on-screen portfolio is minimal. His single credited acting role is a minor appearance playing “Officer Hickerson” in the 2017 independent thriller film M.F.A., which starred Francesca Eastwood.
Brian Hickerson Personal Life
Brian Hickerson’s personal life is centered around his upbringing in South Carolina, his high-profile and turbulent past relationship in Los Angeles, and his publicized struggles with substance abuse.
Hickerson’s personal life has been heavily impacted by severe alcohol abuse, which frequently correlated with his legal issues and domestic disputes. Following his 2021 jail sentence, Hickerson publicly committed to a sobriety program and stated that his continued communication with past partners was part of a structured effort to make amends and heal.
