Michelle Trachtenberg, “Buffy” and “Gossip Girl” Star, Passes Away at 39

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress renowned for her roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl," has passed away at the age of 39.

She was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment on the morning of February 26, 2025. Emergency medical services pronounced her dead at the scene, and while the exact cause of death is under investigation, no foul play is suspected.

Born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, Trachtenberg began her acting career at the tender age of three, featuring in commercials before securing roles in television series such as "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" and "All My Children."

Her breakthrough came with the lead role in the 1996 film "Harriet the Spy." She later gained widespread recognition for portraying Dawn Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and Georgina Sparks in "Gossip Girl," a character she reprised in the 2022 reboot.

In addition to her television success, Trachtenberg appeared in films like "EuroTrip," "Ice Princess," and "17 Again." Her versatility as an actress was evident across both comedic and dramatic roles. Her final film appearance was in "The Scribbler," with an upcoming project titled "Spyral" left incomplete.

Reports indicate that Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant shortly before her death, and complications from the procedure may have contributed to her passing.

Tributes have poured in from co-stars and friends. Blake Lively, who worked with Trachtenberg on "Gossip Girl," described her as "fiercely loyal" and "a kind person, through and through."

“She was electricity,” Lively wrote on Instagram as quoted on The Guardian. “You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself … The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas

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