Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, a child star who rose to prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s, has passed away at the age of 39.
Authorities in Manhattan reported responding to an emergency call early Wednesday, discovering Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive” and declaring her dead at the scene.
The American actress is best known for her role as Dawn Summers, the younger sister on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and for portraying the conniving Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012.
She started her acting career with the film “Harriet the Spy” in 1996, followed by various roles in Nickelodeon shows.
Her death was confirmed by her family’s representatives in a formal statement.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy during this time of loss,” the statement reads.
Officials have indicated that her death is not considered suspicious.
“No criminality is suspected. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing,” according to the NYPD.
Trachtenberg began her acting career at age nine in “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” on Nickelodeon.
In the early 2000s, she received multiple nominations for her performances, including a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Her filmography also includes roles in “EuroTrip,” “Ice Princess,” “Killing Kennedy,” and “Sister Cities.”
US comedian Rosie O’Donnell, who worked with Trachtenberg on “Harriet the Spy,” expressed her sorrow over the loss.
“I loved her very much. She struggled in the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Tributes from former colleagues on her most notable shows have been pouring in.
Ed Westwick, known for his role as Chuck Bass on “Gossip Girl,” shared a photo of Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks on Instagram, captioning it with condolences.
“So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending prayers,” he wrote.
David Boreanaz, her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” castmate, shared on Instagram: “So very sad. Horrible news.”
James Marsters, another “Buffy” castmate, honored her in a social media post, praising her intelligence and humor.
“Michelle was fiercely intelligent, incredibly funny, and immensely talented. She died much too young and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her,” Marsters said.
Trachtenberg reprised her role as Georgina Sparks in 2008 on “Gossip Girl” and made a brief return in the HBO Max reboot in 2023 for two episodes.
Her most recent significant role was in 2021 as the host of the true-crime docuseries “Meet, Marry, Murder” on the digital streaming platform Tubi.
In 2021, Trachtenberg came forward with allegations against “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon for inappropriate conduct on set, following similar accusations by her co-star Charisma Carpenter.
