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Michelle as 'Dawn' with Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Michelle in 'Eurotrip'
Michelle after her liver transplant
Michelle Trachtenberg, the former child star known for a wide range of TV and film roles including in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has died at the age of 39, sources told The Post.
Trachtenberg was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, the sources said.
The actress underwent a liver transplant within the last year, but her body may have rejected the organ, according to sources, who said she died of natural causes.
The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” by police and pronounced dead by EMS workers. They responded to the building after a 911 call reporting a woman experiencing cardiac arrest.
Her death is not deemed suspicious and the city medical examiner will determine the cause, cops said.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement.
Trachtenberg had posted a series of troubling photos in recent months to Instagram, in which she appeared gaunt and frail, prompting some fans to comment about her startling weight loss or ask if she was on drugs.
Last January, Trachtenberg responded to fan concerns, saying she was “happy and healthy” and had never had plastic surgery.
That same month, Trachtenberg posted a selfie, writing “Snake it to make it” in the caption.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed a slight jaundice tint in her eyes, raising worry about the actress’ health. Yellow eyes can be a symptom of liver problems.
Michelle as 'Dawn' with Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Michelle in 'Eurotrip'
Michelle after her liver transplant
Michelle Trachtenberg, the former child star known for a wide range of TV and film roles including in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has died at the age of 39, sources told The Post.
Trachtenberg was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood, the sources said.
The actress underwent a liver transplant within the last year, but her body may have rejected the organ, according to sources, who said she died of natural causes.
The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive” by police and pronounced dead by EMS workers. They responded to the building after a 911 call reporting a woman experiencing cardiac arrest.
Her death is not deemed suspicious and the city medical examiner will determine the cause, cops said.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement.
Trachtenberg had posted a series of troubling photos in recent months to Instagram, in which she appeared gaunt and frail, prompting some fans to comment about her startling weight loss or ask if she was on drugs.
Last January, Trachtenberg responded to fan concerns, saying she was “happy and healthy” and had never had plastic surgery.
That same month, Trachtenberg posted a selfie, writing “Snake it to make it” in the caption.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed a slight jaundice tint in her eyes, raising worry about the actress’ health. Yellow eyes can be a symptom of liver problems.
Born in New York City on Oct. 11, 1985 and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Trachtenberg’s first credited role came at the age of 9 on the classic 1990s Nickelodeon series “The Adventures of Pete and Pete,” in which she portrayed quirky gal-pal Nona F. Mecklenberg.
She went on to star in a variety of kid-oriented movies and shows, making her film debut in 1996’s “Harriet the Spy,” in which she played the title character.
As an adult, she pivoted to more mature acting fare, including a three-year stint playing Dawn Summers, the sister of “Buffy’s” eponymous vampire-slaying protagonist, as well as the manipulative, calculating antagonist Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl,” which ran for six seasons.
In 2021, Trachtenberg made bombshell allegations against “Buffy” creator and “Avengers” director Joss Whedon, then 55, claiming he was physically abusive during filming and that there was a “rule” in place prohibiting him from being alone in a room with her on set, she wrote in a cryptic Instagram post at the time.
Whedon later denied the allegations in an interview with New York Magazine.
On her birthday last Oct. 11, Trachtenberg posted a glamor shot on her Instagram with the caption “39 and I’m feeling fiiiiiine,” which garnered more than 32,000 likes.
Upon news of her death, former co-stars flooded social media with an outpouring of support for the young actress, including Rosie O’Donnell, who vaguely hinted Trachtenberg had “struggled” in recent years.
Ed Westwick –– who played Chuck Bass in “Gossip Girl” –– mourned Trachtenberg’s death by sharing a photo of her as her Georgina Sparks character.
Actress Kim Cattrall shared a sweet photo of the two acting in the 2005 Disney film “Ice Princess” and wrote, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Melissa Gilbert also mourned the actress by posting a photo of them in the 1996 movie, “Holiday for Love.”
“Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another…..my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so…” Gilbert wrote via Instagram.
“Heartbreaking. I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” O’Donnell, who starred with Trachtenberg in “Harriet the Spy,” told Us Weekly.
“So very sad …horrible news,” Trachtenberg’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star David Boreanaz, 55, wrote on his Instagram story. “RIP and prayers to her and her family,” he added.
Trachtenberg left behind her longtime boyfriend, talent agent and producer Jay Cohen, who according to an online bio is head of film finance and distribution at Gersh — one of the world’s largest talent and literary agencies — which signed Trachtenberg in 2014.
The pair were first linked in 2020, according to People. Cohen has two adult daughters, Rachel and Lili.
Trachtenberg was previously in a relationship with talent agent Jay Cohen
She went on to star in a variety of kid-oriented movies and shows, making her film debut in 1996’s “Harriet the Spy,” in which she played the title character.
As an adult, she pivoted to more mature acting fare, including a three-year stint playing Dawn Summers, the sister of “Buffy’s” eponymous vampire-slaying protagonist, as well as the manipulative, calculating antagonist Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl,” which ran for six seasons.
In 2021, Trachtenberg made bombshell allegations against “Buffy” creator and “Avengers” director Joss Whedon, then 55, claiming he was physically abusive during filming and that there was a “rule” in place prohibiting him from being alone in a room with her on set, she wrote in a cryptic Instagram post at the time.
Whedon later denied the allegations in an interview with New York Magazine.
On her birthday last Oct. 11, Trachtenberg posted a glamor shot on her Instagram with the caption “39 and I’m feeling fiiiiiine,” which garnered more than 32,000 likes.
Upon news of her death, former co-stars flooded social media with an outpouring of support for the young actress, including Rosie O’Donnell, who vaguely hinted Trachtenberg had “struggled” in recent years.
Ed Westwick –– who played Chuck Bass in “Gossip Girl” –– mourned Trachtenberg’s death by sharing a photo of her as her Georgina Sparks character.
Actress Kim Cattrall shared a sweet photo of the two acting in the 2005 Disney film “Ice Princess” and wrote, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Melissa Gilbert also mourned the actress by posting a photo of them in the 1996 movie, “Holiday for Love.”
“Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another…..my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so…” Gilbert wrote via Instagram.
“Heartbreaking. I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” O’Donnell, who starred with Trachtenberg in “Harriet the Spy,” told Us Weekly.
“So very sad …horrible news,” Trachtenberg’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star David Boreanaz, 55, wrote on his Instagram story. “RIP and prayers to her and her family,” he added.
Trachtenberg left behind her longtime boyfriend, talent agent and producer Jay Cohen, who according to an online bio is head of film finance and distribution at Gersh — one of the world’s largest talent and literary agencies — which signed Trachtenberg in 2014.
The pair were first linked in 2020, according to People. Cohen has two adult daughters, Rachel and Lili.
Trachtenberg was previously in a relationship with talent agent Jay Cohen
