Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead Wednesday in her New York City apartment near Columbus Circle just after 8 a.m. local time, police sources told ABC News.
It was further reported that the actress had recently undergone a liver transplant after battling alcohol issues and “may have been experiencing complications.”
Trachtenberg’s spokesman told DailyMail.com: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Police stated that no foul play is suspected in her death.
“On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 0801 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 1 Columbus Place, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct,” police said in a statement.
“Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased.
“Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Trachtenberg was best known for her role as Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister, Dawn Summers, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000-2003.
She also had a recurring role as “The Witch of the Upper East Side,” Georgina Sparks, in Gossip Girl, appearing alongside Blake Lively from 2008 to 2012.
In recent years, concerns about Trachtenberg’s health grew after she shared troubling social media posts in which she appeared frail.
Her final public outing was to Sartiano’s restaurant in SoHo last Thursday night.
An autopsy will be conducted by the medical examiner’s office to determine the exact cause of death.
Following news of her passing, her former Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick shared a poignant throwback photo of Trachtenberg from the show, captioned: “So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg, sending prayers.”
Her Harriet the Spy co-star Rosie O’Donnell mourned the “heartbreaking” loss of Trachtenberg in a statement, adding: “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
In 2023, Michelle reprised her role in two episodes of the second (and final) season of HBO Max’s Gossip Girl reboot.
