Michelle Trachtenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl star, dead at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has passed away at the age of 39.

She was found unresponsive by her mother in her New York City apartment on February 26, 2025.

Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant in the months leading up to her passing. Authorities have stated that her death is not being treated as suspicious, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause.

Beginning her career at the age of three, Trachtenberg appeared in numerous commercials before securing roles in television series such as The Adventures of Pete & Pete and All My Children. She made her film debut in Harriet the Spy (1996) and also appeared in several Nickelodeon productions.

She became widely known for portraying Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 to 2003. Later, she played the fan-favourite character Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, a role she reprised in the 2022 reboot.

Many fans and former co-stars have taken to social media to share tributes. Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively wrote on Instagram, "She was electricity... everything she did, she did 200%." Ed Westwick also expressed his sorrow, posting, "So sad to hear of the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg. Sending prayers."

James Marsters, who co-starred with Trachtenberg in Buffy, paid tribute as well, saying, "She died much too young and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her."