Entertainment

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for roles in Buffy and Gossip Girl, dead at 39

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, popular for her roles in buzzy millennial-era TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has died at the age of 39, New York City police confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday.

Her death is not being investigated as suspicious, police say

Michelle Trachtenberg arrives at The Art Of Elysium Heaven Gala at Hangar 8 on Jan. 10, 2015 in Santa Monica.
New York City police say actress Michelle Trachtenberg, pictured here in 2015, was found dead at around 8 a.m. ET Wednesday at 1 Columbus Place, a 51-storey luxury apartment tower in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood. (Omar Vega/Invision/The Associated Press)

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, popular for her roles in buzzy millennial-era TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has died at the age of 39, New York City police confirmed to CBC News on Wednesday.

Police said that Trachtenberg was found shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday at 1 Columbus Place, a 51-storey luxury apartment tower in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood.

Officers had responded to a 911 call and found the American actress "unconscious and unresponsive," according to the NYPD statement, and "pronounced the victim deceased." Her death is not being investigated as suspicious and the investigation is ongoing, police said.

"Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death," the police statement said.

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg attends the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 9, 2020.
Trachtenberg was eight when she began played Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete Nona from 1994 to 1996 and then starred in the title role in the film adaptations of Harriet the Spy and Inspector Gadget. (Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images)

"The family requests privacy for their loss," Trachtenberg's representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Trachtenberg rose to fame at just 10, as the plucky titular snoop in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy.

She recently underwent a liver transplant, the New York Post said on Wednesday, citing sources.

The actress had posted photos to her social media last year that sparked comments among fans who expressed concern about her health because of what they said was a drastic change in her appearance.

She had responded to fans in a post on Instagram saying, "I've received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters."

In another post she said, "Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar."

Trachtenberg was eight when she began playing Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete Nona from 1994 to 1996 and then starred in the film adaptations of Harriet the Spy and Inspector Gadget.

"Michelle comes off as genuine because she really is a genuine kid. Everyone can identify with her," said Debby Beece, president of Nickelodeon Movies in 1996.

WATCH | When Trachtenberg rose to fame as Harriet the Spy:

When Michelle Trachtenberg starred as Harriet the Spy (1996)

1 day ago
Duration 1:10
Before roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, actress Michelle Trachtenberg made her film debut in Harriet the Spy. Trachtenberg’s death was reported Feb. 26. She was 39 years old.

In 2000, Trachtenberg joined the cast of Buffy, playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003.

Trachtenberg thanked Gellar for speaking out against Joss Whedon in 2021, following abuse allegations made against the Buffy showrunner.

"I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman to repost this," she wrote on social media, and alluded to "his not appropriate behaviour" she experienced as a teenage actor.

Michelle Trachtenberg attends The Art Of Elysium's 13th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Hollywood Palladium on January 04, 2020.
Trachtenberg rose to fame at just 10, as the plucky titular snoop in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy. (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images )

In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery's Truth or Scare

Trachtenberg went on to recurring roles on Six Feet UnderWeeds and Gossip Girl, where she played the gang's scheming nemesis, Georgina Sparks.

For her fan-favourite role, she was nominated as a TV villain at the Teen Choice Award in 2012. "It's definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl," she told Seventeen in 2009. I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don't want to play villains or evil characters."

Michelle Trachtenberg arrives at the grand opening of the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles on Dec. 4, 2008.
In 2001, Trachtenberg received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery's Truth or Scare. She went on to recurring roles on Six Feet Under, Weeds and Gossip Girl, where she played the gang's scheming nemesis, Georgina Sparks. (Matt Sayles/The Associated Press)

She was one of the original series' stars to return for a pair of guest appearances in the 2021 Gossip Girl revival.

As if to cement herself in millennial culture, Trachtenberg made a cameo in Fall Out Boy's music video for the This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race alongside Seth Green.

Hollywood pays tribute

Hollywood took to social media to mourn one of their own, someone who had made the transition from kid star to teen queen to adult actor.

James Marsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star who played punk vampire Spike, wrote on Instagram: "My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny and a very talented person. She died much too young and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her."

"My heart goes out to her family who are good people, and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear. I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time. Godspeed Michelle. You are missed," Marsters said.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star David Boreanaz said on Instagram it was "so very sad ... horrible news."

Melissa Gilbert, who starred with Trachtenberg in the 1996 film A Holiday for Love, wrote on Instagram: "My heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so."

Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick said on Instagram, "So sad to hear of the passing ... sending prayers." 

Kim Cattrall, who appeared alongside Trachtenberg in Ice Princess, wrote on Instagram: "Rest in peace sweet Michelle."

In 2005's Ice Princess in 2005, she played a math prodigy and aspiring figure skater. The New York City-born Trachtenberg also appeared in the 2004 teen sex comedy EuroTrip, she co-starred with Zac Efron and Leslie Mann in 2009's 17 Again and played a murderous stalker and abductor on an episode of Criminal Minds.

For Killing Kennedy, the 2013 film in which she played the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald, around 80 per cent of Trachtenberg's dialogue was in Russian. She had learned the language from her mother growing up.

More recently, she hosted the true crime docuseries Meet, Marry, Murder on Tubi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samritha Arunasalam is a senior writer for CBC News based in Toronto. She has previously worked at Reuters as a technology correspondent and digital journalist. Samritha holds a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, Wales. You can reach her at [email protected]

With files from Griffin Jaeger and The Associated Press