Michelle Trachtenberg: Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress dies aged 39
Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire actress Michelle Trachtenberg has died aged 39.
The actress was found dead at her home in New York City after officers responded to a 911 call just after 8am local time this morning.
An investigation into her death has been opened but “criminality is not suspected”, police said.
“The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Trachtenberg was best known for her role as Dawn Summers in Buffy, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003.
Between 2008 and 2012, she played Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl – the malevolent rival of Blake Lively’s Serena van der Woodsen and Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf.
Blake Lively and Michelle Trachtenberg in Gossip Girl. Pic: Rex/CW Network/Everett/Shutterstock
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented,” said a joint statement of “Gossip Girl” creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.
“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. She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”
She also starred in the movie 17 Again, where she portrayed daughter Maggie O’Donnell, comedy film Eurotrip and the 2005 teen film Ice Princess.
Kim Cattrall, who played rink owner and figure skater Tina Harwood in Ice Princess, posted a picture of herself and Trachtenberg from that movie.
Trachtenberg thanked Gellar for speaking out against Joss Whedon in 2021, following abuse allegations made against the Buffy showrunner.
“I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman to repost this,” she wrote on social media, and alluded to “his not appropriate behaviour” she experienced as a teenage actor.
In response to claims on the set of Buffy, Mr Whedon told Vulture that he was not as “civilised” as he was now and admitted yelling at the cast – but dismissed several other claims.
Meanwhile, her co-star on Gossip Girl Ed Westwick said in an Instagram Story that he was “so sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg sending prayers”.
Ed Westwick’s tribute to Trachtenberg on Instagram. Pic: Instagram/@edwestwick
Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star David Boreanaz said on Instagram it was “so very sad.. horrible news”.
Trachtenberg’s first big break into Hollywood came in 1996, starring in the big screen adaptation of Harriet the Spy.
In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery’s Truth or Scare.
Her most recent film appearance came last year when she played the role of Michelle Cody White in Spyral.
Trachtenberg posted on social media in recent months to tell fans she was OK despite concerns that she appeared frail.
She responded to one commenter: “Did you lose a calendar and not realise I’m not 14. I’m 38.”
