On Feb. 26, 2025, it was announced that actress Michelle Trachtenberg had died. It’s been alleged that Trachtenberg was suffering from complications of a liver transplant, though the cause of death has not yet been revealed. NYPD and authorities have confirmed that they’re not treating the death as suspicious.
The 39-year-old actress is most beloved for her roles as Georgina Sparks in “Gossip Girl” (2008), Dawn Summers in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (2000) and Casey Carlyle in “Ice Princess” (2005).
Fans and co-stars of Trachtenberg have come forward to mourn the star’s sudden death, including Blake Lively, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ed Westwick, Rosie O’Donnell and Kim Cattrall.
“Heartbreaking. I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” O’Donnell said in a statement to US Weekly.
It’s unclear what struggle O’Donnell is referring to — though many recall when Trachtenberg responded to health concerns due to her weight loss in early 2024 by saying that she was “happy and healthy”.
Blake Lively also posted a lengthy tribute to Instagram, detailing her experience on set with Trachtenberg during the filming of “Gossip Girl”.
“She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%,” Lively wrote in her caption.
The actress also recounted how Trachtenberg would always have “yummy caramel smelling lip gloss” on because “she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details.”
Born on Oct. 11, 1985, Trachtenberg entered the acting industry when she was only six years old. Her career kicked off with her first appearance as Nona F. Mecklenberg in the Nickelodeon series “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” (1994).
Her role as Dawn Summers — Buffy’s little sister in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” — marked a turning point in Trachtenberg’s career. She appeared in all 66 episodes of season 5 and season 7, becoming a well-known member of the cast and a prominent character. Portraying a troubled teen in a 1990s supernatural series solidified Trachtenberg as a “touchstone of millennial youth culture.”
Sarah Michelle Geller paid tribute to her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star with a quote from a monologue she delivered during season 5. “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,” Geller wrote in a post on Instagram.
With numerous awards under her belt, the actress then switched to film, starring alongside Joseph Gordon Levitt in “Mysterious Skin” (2004).
In 2022, Trachtenberg reprised her role as Georgina Sparks in HBO’s adaptation of “Gossip Girl”. In 2023, she had a voice role in Apple TV’s animated series adaptation of “Harriet the Spy” — her final projects.
With a large number of memorable roles that many fans held close to their hearts, Trachtenberg tragically left behind a legacy that spanned decades. She will be missed.
