Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in “Harriet the Spy,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 26, of natural causes. The actress was 39.
Police arrived at her New York apartment just after 8 a.m. after a 911 call had been made claiming there was an unconscious and unresponsive woman inside. Trachtenberg was identified as the victim and pronounced deceased.
The New York Police Department said in a statement that there was no criminal intent behind Trachtenberg’s death. There will be an autopsy performed as the investigation remains ongoing and the official cause of death will come from the Medical Examiner.
Trachtenberg reportedly had a liver transplant, though it is unconfirmed whether there were complications resulting from the operation.
The actress started her career by landing her first big role as Harriet in the 1996 titular film, “Harriet the Spy,” starring alongside Rosie O’Donnell.
Though Trachtenberg got her start in films, she quickly grew into television acting in 2000 when she entered the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” world as Dawn Summers, Buffy’s younger sister, in season five. The role received mixed signals, considering the main character had always been seen as an only-child for four prior seasons. However, after understanding the importance of Trachtenberg’s role in the show, fans quickly came around.
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a parallel from the season five finale in the caption of an Instagram post by saying, “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.”
Other “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” cast members have shared their condolences on social media. Alyson Hannigan, who played the role of Willow, shared, “I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy.”
James Marsters, who played Spike, also mourned Trachtenberg’s death on Wednesday. “We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person.”
In 2008, Trachtenberg joined the cast of “Gossip Girl” as the villain Georgina Sparks. She said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2021, “Georgina is actually my favorite character that I’ve played because she’s such an evil B-I-T-C-H.”
“She’s not only a true professional, but she’s also the perfect antidote to anyone who takes life a bit too seriously.” – Jessica Szohr, “Gossip Girl” actress
Trachtenberg’s “Gossip Girl” co-actor, Jessica Szohr shared that, “Her kindness and outrageous sense of humor create an atmosphere of joy, both on set and beyond.”
Betsy Chambers, a senior and English major at the University of North Georgia, said, “It’s really tragic considering my friends and I had watched Gossip Girl years ago, and her passing was just really unexpected.”
Her most recent notable role was a cameo in the second season of the “Gossip Girl” reboot, returning once again as Georgina Sparks. She also starred in the true crime TV show, “Meet, Marry, Murder,” which Trachtenberg hosted and was an executive producer.
