Michelle Trachtenberg, Star of Buffy and Gossip Girl, Passes Away at 39

The entertainment industry is mourning the sudden passing of Michelle Trachtenberg, the beloved actress known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, and Harriet the Spy.

Trachtenberg was found deceased in her New York City apartment earlier today at the age of 39. While authorities have confirmed that her death is not being treated as suspicious, the official cause remains under investigation by the city medical examiner. Sources close to the actress suggest she had recently undergone a liver transplant, which may have contributed to complications leading to her untimely passing.

Born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, Michelle Christine Trachtenberg was the daughter of Jewish immigrants—her mother, Lana Trachtenberg, from Russia and her father, Michael Trachtenberg, from Germany. She and her older sister, Irene Trachtenberg, were raised in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighbourhood in a household that embraced both Christmas and Hanukkah due to their mixed religious heritage.

Throughout her life, Trachtenberg’s relationships often garnered public attention. At the time of her passing, she was in a relationship with talent agent Jay Cohen, whom she had been dating since at least August 2020.

The couple maintained a relatively private relationship, though Michelle occasionally shared glimpses of their bond on social media, including a heartfelt Valentine’s Day post earlier this month. In the past, she had been linked to high-profile figures such as Kid Cudi, Josh Groban, Jason Segel, Pete Wentz, Shawn Ashmore, and Jason Lewis.

Trachtenberg’s career began at the age of three. She starred in over 100 commercials before her first credited television role as Nona F. Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996). She gained international fame with her breakthrough roles as Harriet in Harriet the Spy (1996) and Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–2003), earning accolades for her performance.

She later made a lasting impact on television by portraying Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl (2007–2012, returning for the 2023 reboot). Her film credits include EuroTrip (2004) and Ice Princess (2005), while her behind-the-scenes work included producing the teen drama Guidance (2015–2017) and hosting the true crime series Meet, Marry, Murder (2021).

Trachtenberg, a proud New Yorker, spoke fluent Russian and maintained close ties to her heritage. Despite her fame, she remained grounded and reflective of her journey from child stardom to adult acclaim.

In recent weeks, fans expressed concern over her frail appearance in social media posts, prompting Trachtenberg to address speculation and deny health issues or plastic surgery rumours. Her final Instagram post, shared on February 19, featured a throwback from the 2013 premiere of Killing Kennedy, captioned, “I wanted to look like naughty # Tinkerbell.”

Michelle Trachtenberg is survived by her parents, Lana and Michael Trachtenberg, her sister Irene, and her boyfriend Jay Cohen. Her family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and no official statement has been released.