Former child actress Michelle Trachtenberg has died at age 39. Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York City apartment on Wednesday, February 26, according to reports.
Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant and “may have been experiencing complications,” from the surgery.
Police are not investigating the death as foul play. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
Trachtenberg was best known for her roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Gossip Girl” and the comedy “EuroTrip.”
She earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her role as the host of the Discovery Kids series “Truth or Scare” (2001–2003).
Trachtenberg was born on October 11, 1985, in New York City. She made her first television appearance at the age of three, in a commercial for Wisk detergent. She went on to feature in over 100 more commercials.
She landed her first TV role in an episode of “Law & Order” in 1991. Next, she appeared in Nickelodeon’s “Clarissa Explains it All” and later on “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.”
Her breakout role came at age 10 when she starred as the lead in the 1996 film “Harriet the Spy”.
Trachtenberg’s last credited role was in 2023, reprising Georgina Sparks on Max’s “Gossip Girl” reboot.
Trachtenberg clapped back at fans who expressed concern over her dramatic weight loss and yellow eyes, a sign of liver disease.
She wrote, “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar.”
In a follow-up post, she wrote: “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
