Famous friends and colleagues are mourning the death of Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star and actor best known for her roles on “Gossip Girl” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Trachtenberg was found dead Wednesday morning in her New York apartment. She was 39.
Trachtenberg’s role as the fiery Georgina Sparks on “Gossip Girl,” which ran from 2007 through 2012, is one of her most memorable performances. Her co-star Blake Lively, who played Serena van der Woodsen, led the tributes that poured out on social media Wednesday with a lengthy post on her Instagram story.
Lively posted a photo of the duo from the series, writing that it was taken the first day she met Trachtenberg.
“She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself,” Lively wrote.
“Hold those you love and have loved dear,” she continued. “The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Trachtenberg is also fondly remembered for her role as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s younger sister, Dawn Summers, in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She appeared in 66 episodes of the WB TV series over three years.
Gellar posted several photos with Trachtenberg on Instagram on Thursday morning, with the carousel of images scored by Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You.”
“Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you,” she wrote. “The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.”
Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on “Gossip Girl,” also paid tribute.
“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg Sending prayers,” Westwick wrote on his Instagram story.
“So very sad … horrible news,” wrote her “Buffy” co-star David Boreanaz on his Instagram story. “RIP and prayers to her and her family.”
“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!!” wrote comedian and actor Kenan Thompson on Instagram. One of Trachtenberg’s first roles was on the Nickelodeon series “The Adventures of Pete & Pete,” which aired in the ’90s when Thompson also worked on the children’s network. “Check on your people!!!” Thompson added.
According to ABC News, Trachtenberg is believed to have died of natural causes after recently undergoing a liver transplant, which may have caused complications. Her cause of death has not been determined.
“This is Heartbreaking,” Kim Cattrall wrote on X. The “Sex and the City” star starred in “Ice Princess” with Trachtenberg in 2005. “So talented, much too young. RIP Sweet Beauty. xo.”
Trachtenberg made her feature film debut in the 1996 movie “Harriet the Spy,” in which she starred alongside Rosie O’Donnell, Gregory Smith and J. Smith-Cameron.
“Heartbreaking,” O’Donnell said in a statement to The Times. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Melissa Gilbert, who starred with Trachtenberg in the 1996 TV movie “A Holiday for Love,” paid tribute to her on-screen daughter.
“Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another…..my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so… @michelletrachtenberg #ripsweetgirl,” Gilbert wrote on Instagram.
