Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who shone brightly in the 1996 blockbuster "Harriet the Spy" and later became a co-star in two highly popular TV shows of the millennium era – "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl" – has passed away at the age of 39.
The police responded to an emergency call shortly after 8 a.m. at a luxurious 51-story apartment tower located in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found Trachtenberg in a state of unconsciousness, unresponsive to their presence, as stated in an NYPD report. Paramedics, who arrived soon after, pronounced her dead at the scene. The authorities have ruled out any foul play, and the New York Medical Examiner is currently investigating the cause of her demise.
"The family kindly requests privacy during this difficult time," said Gary Mantoosh, Trachtenberg's representative, in a statement released on Wednesday.
Trachtenberg began her acting journey at the tender age of 8, portraying Nona Mecklenberg in Nickelodeon's "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" from 1994 to 1996. She then took center stage in the film adaptations of "Harriet the Spy" and "Inspector Gadget," sharing the screen with Matthew Broderick.
"Michelle is authentic because she is a genuinely innocent child. Everyone can relate to her," remarked Debby Beece, the president of Nickelodeon Movies, in 1996.
In 2000, Trachtenberg joined the cast of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the titular character portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, from 2000 to 2003. In 2021, after abuse allegations were made against the showrunner Joss Whedon, Trachtenberg thanked Gellar for speaking out against him. "As a 35-year-old woman, I am now brave enough to repost this," she wrote on social media, hinting at the inappropriate behavior she experienced as a teenage actor.
In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery's "Truth or Scare." Trachtenberg continued to appear in recurring roles in shows such as "Six Feet Under," "Weeds," and "Gossip Girl," where she played Georgina Sparks, the cunning nemesis of the main gang.
For her beloved portrayal that captivated fans, she received a nomination in the category of TV villain at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. In an interview with Seventeen magazine back in 2009, she enthused, "Playing the villain is undoubtedly far more exhilarating than embodying the virtuous character. The reactions you elicit are thrilling. I've always been puzzled by actors who shy away from portraying villains or malevolent figures." Among the original cast members, she was one of the stars who gracefully returned for a couple of guest spots in the 2021 revival of "Gossip Girl."
On Tuesday, Blake Lively paid tribute to her "Gossip Girl" co-star on Instagram, stating, "Michelle was a profoundly sensitive soul and a genuine good person, whose passing has left the world devoid of her light. May those fortunate enough to have experienced her fiery spirit remember her through her remarkable work and immense heart."
Further cementing her place in millennial culture, Trachtenberg made a memorable cameo alongside Seth Green in Fall Out Boy's music video for "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race." Hollywood mourned the loss of one of their own, who had successfully transitioned from a child star to a teenage icon and then to an accomplished adult actor. David Boreanaz, her co-star from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," posted on Instagram, expressing his deep sadness over the "horrible news." Melissa Gilbert, who starred with Trachtenberg in the 1996 film "A Holiday for Love," wrote on Instagram, "My heart is heavy for your family and all who cherished you deeply." Rosie O'Donnell, who featured alongside Trachtenberg in her debut film "Harriet the Spy," called her passing "heartbreaking," adding, "I adored her immensely. She faced struggles in recent years, and I wish I could have offered her assistance." Glee's Chris Colfer reminisced, "Michelle was the sweetest person and one of the most supportive individuals I've ever known."
Trachtenberg's later credits shine brightly, including her role in "Ice Princess" (2005), where she portrayed a mathematically gifted aspiring figure skater. According to The Associated Press, the film had "a genuine, albeit tender heart and noble intentions," highlighting how Trachtenberg expertly revisited the nervous energy she exuded as a younger sister in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Born in New York City, Trachtenberg also graced the screen in the 2004 teen sex comedy "EuroTrip." She co-starred with Zac Efron and Leslie Mann in "17 Again" (2009) and portrayed a murderer and abductor in an episode of "Criminal Minds." For her role in the 2013 film "Killing Kennedy," where she essayed the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald, approximately 80% of her dialogue was in Russian, a language she had mastered from her mother during her upbringing.
Other notable credits include supporting roles in films like "Mysterious Skin" (2004) and "Black Christmas" (2006). She also starred opposite Taylor Schilling in the NBC medical drama "Mercy" from 2009 to 2010. More recently, she hosted the true-crime docuseries "Meet, Marry, Murder" on Tubi.
