Tragic Loss: Michelle Trachtenberg of ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Fame Passes Away at 39

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, widely recognized for her roles in “Gossip Girl,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Harriet the Spy,” has passed away at the age of 39. Authorities responded to a 911 call early Monday morning at her residence in a luxury apartment tower located in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen.

According to the New York Police Department, officers discovered Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive.” Paramedics who arrived at the scene pronounced her dead. The NYPD reported that no foul play is suspected, and the New York Medical Examiner’s office is currently investigating the cause of her death.

The news was first reported by the New York Post. Trachtenberg’s passing raises questions, especially as she had recently addressed concerns about her health, insisting she felt “happy and healthy” just one year prior.

Born on October 11, 1985, Trachtenberg began her career at an early age, featuring in television commercials by age three. She secured a recurring role as Lily Montgomery on the soap opera “All My Children” before gaining recognition for her part as Dawn Summers in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.

In 2021, Trachtenberg publicly supported Gellar’s criticism of Joss Whedon, the showrunner of “Buffy,” following allegations of abusive behavior on set. She expressed her own concerns about experiencing “not appropriate behavior” during her teenage years as an actor.

Throughout her career, Trachtenberg garnered a Daytime Emmy nomination for her hosting of Discovery’s “Truth or Scare” in 2001. She also made appearances in critically acclaimed series such as “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds,” and of course, “Gossip Girl,” where she portrayed the manipulative Georgina Sparks.

Her recent work included reprising her role as Georgina in the “Gossip Girl” reboot on MAX. Beyond television, she made a notable appearance in Fall Out Boy’s music video for “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” further embedding herself in the pop culture landscape of her generation.

Trachtenberg participated in several beloved films like “Ice Princess,” “EuroTrip,” and “17 Again.” In the biographical film “Killing Kennedy,” she played Lee Harvey Oswald’s wife and showcased her fluency in Russian, a language she learned from her mother.

Other highlights of her acting repertoire include supporting roles in “Mysterious Skin” and “Black Christmas,” as well as a lead role in the NBC drama “Mercy.” Most recently, she hosted the true-crime docuseries “Meet, Marry, Murder” on Tubi.