Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York apartment on Wednesday, February 26. The 39-year-old’s body was discovered by her mother, shocking family, friends, and fans. Trachtenberg started performing as a child, landing roles on Harriet the Spy and The Adventures of Pete & Pete, before playing Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
She was also on Gossip Girl, EuroTrip, and other movies throughout her career. Even though she had just recently stepped back from Hollywood, her impact never faded. Many of her ex-cast mates have paid tribute, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, who knew her very closely.
Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to dead ‘Buffy’ actress on Instagram
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A day after Trachtenberg’s death, Geller went on Instagram to mourn her death. She posted a series of throwbacks from their time on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reminisced about the years they’d been friends. During her eulogy, she recalled a poignant scene from Buffy’s fifth season finale, where the actress portraying Buffy makes a life-changing decision for her sister, portrayed by Trachtenberg.
She described how difficult it was to accept that her friend was no longer there, vowing to keep her memory alive. The post quickly filled up with condolence messages from Trachtenberg’s co-stars and fans, each mourning the death of Trachtenberg. Many shared personal stories about how her acting had personally affected them, while others gave love and sympathy to those who were mourning her.
What was Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death?
Though nothing is confirmed officially, sources said that Trachtenberg had just undergone a liver transplant and perhaps could have been suffering from complications which led to her death. The Police also believe she died of natural causes, and there doesn’t seem to be any crime at play.
A good friend of hers also mentioned that she was very ill and had not been mentally okay for some time. Other close companions reported that she had complained of her troubles and been open regarding her declining health.