Michelle Trachtenberg, the beloved star of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl was found dead in her home on Wednesday morning, at age 39.
Both ABC News and the New York Post confirmed with police that the actor was found by her mother. While an autopsy is yet to confirm Trachtenberg’s cause of death, it is not being treated as suspicious.
The New York Post has reported the actor’s death followed a cardiac arrest, the actor had recently undergone a liver transplant, and it is thought she may have been experiencing complications.
If Trachtenberg was suffering an illness, she chose not to disclose it to the public. Early last year, the actor had hit back at fans’ suggestions she might be ill after they noted her weight loss and “jaundiced” eyes.
“Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have hate? Get a calendar” the actor posted. She added in a separate post: “I have had several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Trachtenberg rose to fame as a Nickelodeon child star during the 1990s, appearing on TV series like Harriet the Spy and The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She is best remembered (and most loved) for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl.
In 2000, Michelle Trachtenberg stepped into the role of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular character Buffy’s sister Dawn. When news circulated that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel was in the works, Trachtenberg shouted out Gellar in a post to Instagram. She shared a photo of the two, captioning it: “Slay all day! Always loved this twinning photo of us! #buffy #dawn #sister #womancrushwednesday.”
In 2008, she took the role of Gossip Girl anti-hero Georgina Sparks, a character who returns from Serina Van Der Woodsen’s past to cause trouble. She told Seventeen magazine in 2009 that she revelled in playing the bad girl. “It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl. I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don’t want to play villains or evil characters.”
Gossip Girl show runners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage have paid tribute to the star this morning noting she had originally been booked for just one season on Gossip Girl.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing,” they shared in a statement to NBC News. “Michelle was funny, kind, and talented. Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favourite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons.” They added: “She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”
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