Actor Michelle Trachtenberg Passes Away At Age 39
Actor Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her performances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, Harriet the Spy, and more, has died at the age of 39 in New York this week.
Police confirmed Trachtenberg’s death to ABC News and the New York Post this week with no cause of death confirmed. Police stated on Wednesday that the New York Medical Examiner was investigating the cause, however, there was no foul play suspected.
Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant, and ABC reported that Trachtenberg’s mother found her in a New York apartment.
Trachtenberg was a famous actress who got her start in Hollywood as a child. She’s known for many roles, and got her start as a commercial actor before being featured in Nickelodeon’s show The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and the soap opera All My Children.
Trachtenberg became an iconic figure for children, teens, and adults alike in the early 2000’s and 2010’s, scoring her first lead role in a film in Harriet the Spy, also starring Rosie O’Donnell.
“There was a lot required of me, I’m extremely grateful for the experience,” Trachtenberg said back in 2021 reflecting on how she began filming her first movie on her 10th birthday.
One of her most well-known roles was Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and remained on the show until it ended three years later.
Co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar honored Trachtenberg on social media on Thursday stating: “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live … for you.”
Her other Buffy co-star James Masters told People Magazine: “My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.”
David Boreanaz, who played Angel, shared: “So very sad … horrible news. RIP and prayers to her and her family.”
Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow, posted: “I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy.”
Kim Cattrell, Trachtenberg’s co-star in the Disney film Ice Princess, posted “Rest in peace Michelle,” along with a photo from the film’s set of the two of them.
One of Trachtenberg’s most well-known roles was Georgina Sparks on the hit show Gossip Girl. “Georgina is actually my favorite character that I’ve played because she’s such an evil B-I-T-C-H. That was fun,” Trachtenberg said in 2021.
Co-star Blake Lively posted a written memorial to Trachtenberg on Wednesday as well:
“She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself,” Lively wrote
“The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.