Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer has died. According to ABC, Trachtenberg was found dead on Feb. 26 in a New York City apartment. She was 39.
This news comes as a shock and Trachtenberg recently underwent a liver transplant which may be taken into consideration when the city medical examiner comes to determine the cause.
Leading up to her death, Trachtenberg had posted a series of “troubling” photos, appearing frail, which naturally gathered attention from fans, who commented about a potential weight loss. She responded to the numerous comments left, essentially clapping back and putting what people were saying about her to rest. “Fun fact. This is my face,” she responded to one comment. “Not malnutrition, no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar.”
Born in New York City on Oct. 11, 1985, Trachtenberg was a TV icon in the late 1990s 2000s, from her breakout role in Harriet the Spy to starring in fan-fave series like Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer even earned her two Teen Choice Award nominations, one for choice TV sidekick in 2001, and the other for choice TV villain in 2012 for her role as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl.
Trachtenberg also dominated movie screens during the mid-to-late 2000s, starring in plenty of teen classics. From playing Maggie O’Donnell in 17 Again to her key role in the 2004 raunchy cult comedy Eurotrip, Trachtenberg garnered more attention as the 2000s progressed. She reprised her role as Georgina Sparks in the 2023 HBO reboot of Gossip Girl, giving new and old generations a glimpse into the past.
After news broke of Trachtenberg’s death, many people took to social media to share their reactions to this heartbreaking news. Actor Ed Westwick, who starred as Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl alongside Trachtenberg, took to his Instagram story to pay tribute to his former co-star. “So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending Prayers,” he wrote alongside a photo of Trachtenberg in her iconic Gossip Girl role.
Fans also flocked to social media to share their grief and sadness over Trachtenberg’s passing, while reminiscing about her most iconic roles.
rest in peace michelle trachtenberg 💔 pic.twitter.com/dFkDSrQOLY
— out of context house m.d. (@nocontexthousem) February 26, 2025
— rest in peace michelle trachtenberg. thank you for the childhood memories. fly high. 🪽🌹 pic.twitter.com/ByUmn5twIt
— ꫂ ၴႅၴ. (@filmsbratz) February 26, 2025
michelle trachtenberg, our ice princess forever 🤍
pic.twitter.com/GtJOznRNDp— ana (@literatiloverr) February 26, 2025
Rest in peace, Michelle.