Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has died at the age of 39, New York police confirmed on Wednesday.
Authorities discovered Trachtenberg unresponsive in a Manhattan apartment around 8 a.m. that morning. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. While her passing is not currently considered suspicious, the official cause of death will be determined following an autopsy by the medical examiner.
Trachtenberg’s career began in childhood, landing early television and commercial roles before gaining recognition as Nona F. Mecklenberg in Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She became a household name after starring as the title character in Harriet the Spy (1996), which marked her breakout film role.
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Her fame continued to rise in the 2000s, especially with her portrayal of Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and later, Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl. She reprised her Gossip Girl role in a guest appearance for the HBO reboot in 2022, her most recent acting credit.
Following the news of her passing, Rosie O’Donnell, who co-starred with Trachtenberg in Harriet the Spy, expressed her grief. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” O’Donnell said in a statement to People.
Tributes from colleagues and fans continue to pour in, mourning the loss of a beloved actress whose performances left a lasting impact on television and film .
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