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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayMichelle Trachtenberg—best known for her roles on Gossip Girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harriet the Spy—was found dead in her New York City apartment on Feb. 26. She was 39.
Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39: Rosie O'Donnell, Kim Cattrall & More Pay Tribute
Details surrounding Michelle Trachtenberg's death remain unknown.
The Gossip Girl alum's cause of death has been ruled as "undetermined," the New York City Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to E! News Feb. 27. The actress' family objected to an autopsy, according to People, citing the medical examiner's office, which led to the ruling.
Trachtenberg was found "unconscious and unresponsive" in her Manhattan apartment on the morning of Feb. 26, according to the New York Police Department. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities determined the actress had passed away. She was 39.
At the time of her death, Trachtenberg was recovering from a liver transplant, per ABC News, citing police sources. The sources told the outlet the former child star's mom was the one found her unresponsive in the apartment.
"The family requests privacy for their loss," Trachtenberg's rep told E! News in a Feb. 26 statement. "There are no further details at this time."
In the wake of her passing, many of the Trachtenberg's former colleagues shared their condolences and paid tribute. In a statement to E! News, her Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell said, "I loved her very much."
Describing the loss as "heartbreaking," she continued of Trachtenberg, "She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped."
Meanwhile, Trachtenberg's Buffy the Vampire Slayer castmate James Marsters said his "heart is heavy" after learning of her passing.
"We have lost a beautiful soul," he wrote on Instagram Feb. 26. "Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her."
David Boreanaz, who also starred in the supernatural series, added that it was "horrible" to hear news of her death, writing on social media, "So very sad."
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
In her final years, Trachtenberg lived a quieter life away from the cameras. Her last TV credit was for her reprised role as Georgina Sparks on the 2022 reboot of Gossip Girl.
In January 2024, she addressed online concerns for her health, writing in response to criticism about her appearance, "Explain to me how I look sick."
"Did you lose a calendar and not realize I'm not 14," she added at the time. "How sad for you to leave such a comment."
Read on for a look at Trachtenberg's life in photos.
Evan Agostini/Liaison via Getty Images
1996
Getty Images
1996
Harriet the Spy
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
1998
Bei/Shutterstock
1999
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
1999
20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock
2001
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Peter Brooker/Shutterstock
2001
20th Century Fox Television/Kobal/Shutterstock
2002
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock
2002
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
2003
SBM/Plux/Shutterstock
2004
Rafy/Walt Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
2005
Ice Princess
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
2008
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
2009
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
2009
Marion Curtis/Starpix/Shutterstock
2010
Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock
2011
Broadimage/Shutterstock
2012
Gossip Girl
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
2012
John Sciulli/Getty Images for Iconix Brand Group
2013
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
2014
Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Baby Buggy
2015
Mediapunch/Shutterstock
2017
Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock
2019
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF
2020
Karolina Wojtasik/HBO Max
2022
Gossip Girl
Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images
2023
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