Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has died at the age of 39, according to US media reports.

New York police responded to an emergency call on Wednesday morning and found Trachtenberg unconscious and unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment. Emergency medical services pronounced her dead at the scene. Authorities stated that foul play is not suspected, though the official cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s office.

Citing anonymous sources, ABC News reported that Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have experienced complications. A representative for the actress requested privacy for the family, adding that no further details are available at this time.

Born in New York, Trachtenberg began her career as a child star, first gaining recognition on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She later starred in Harriet the Spy (1996), the network’s first feature film, alongside Rosie O’Donnell.

Her breakout television role came in 2000 when she joined Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Dawn Summers, the younger sister of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s title character. She remained on the show until its conclusion in 2003.

Trachtenberg later gained further fame as the cunning socialite Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl, appearing in multiple seasons from 2008 to 2012. She also starred in films such as EuroTrip, 17 Again, and The Scribbler, with guest roles on TV series including Weeds and Mercy. Her final acting credit was in the Gossip Girl reboot in 2022.

Trachtenberg’s sudden passing has shocked fans and colleagues alike, with tributes pouring in for the actress who charmed audiences from childhood through her decades-long career.