Roommates, Hollywood recently lost one of its young vets. On Wednesday (February 26), the New York Post reported that Michelle Trachtenberg passed away at age 39. She started her career as a child actor in 1985 and secured her film breakout role in ‘Harriet the Spy’ in 1996. Ultimately, the entertainer landed roles in pop culture hits like ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’
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More Details About Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death
Though NYP was the first to report, multiple outlets, including ABC News, have also reported the high-profile death.
In the New York Post report, the details said Michelle’s mother discovered her “unconscious and unresponsive” at around 8 a.m. She reportedly passed away at a luxury apartment complex in Manhattan called One Columbus Place. At this time, sources also claimed Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death is linked to complications following an alleged liver transplant.
Keep in mind that the city medical examiner still has to release their official report. At the time, NYP stated that the actress’ death did not appear suspicious.
20th Television & Co-Stars Speak Out
Michelle Trachtenberg’s resume was far from a one-hit wonder. As mentioned, she was truly not new to Hollywood, from TV to films. From 2000 to 2003, she played Dawn, Buffy’s little sister, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. One year into the show, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for TV sidekick. Her co-star in the teen drama, David Boreanaz, who played Angel, posted a tribute on IG Stories. “So very sad…horrible news. R.I.P. and prayers to her and her family,” he wrote. 20th Television, the studio behind ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer,’ shared a statement.
“Michelle touched a generation of television fans throughout her career, including in her unforgettable role as the independent and strong-willed Dawn Summers in Buffy,” a rep for 20th Television said. “She brought depth, heart, and authenticity to every performance and will be remembered for her remarkable talent. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends — she will be deeply missed.”
Meanwhile, from 2008 to 2012, she played Georgina Sparks, the villain in ‘Gossip Girl.’ That role earned her another Teen Choice nomination in 2012. Her co-star from the show, Ed Westwick, also shared an IG Stories post about the passing. “So sad to hear the passing. Sending prayers.” he wrote on a throwback picture of Michelle Trachtenberg and tagged her.
The actress has other shows on her resume, including Weeds, Mercy, and a Gossip Girl reboot from 2022. Michelle’s supporters also saw her act in the movies ’17 Again’ and ‘The Scribbler.’ A statement from 20th Television addressed the actress’ death.
The last post on Michelle Trachtenberg’s Instagram feed, from February 18, is a throwback red carpet photo. In the caption, she compared her look in the flick to Tinkerbell. “I wanted to look like naughty #tinkerbell,” she wrote.
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