Actress Michelle Trachtenberg has tragically died suddenly, authorities have revealed.
The 39-year-old actress was found dead in a New York City apartment, police confirmed.
Authorities found Trachtenberg at a residence after responding to a 911 call around 8 a.m. local time.
The actress was unconscious and unresponsive, according to the New York Police Department.
She was pronounced dead after emergency medical services arrived.
Trachtenberg’s death is not being investigated as suspicious.
An investigation remains ongoing.
Police sources told ABC7 that Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant.
The outlet suggested that she may have been experiencing complications.
However, her cause of death has not been determined by the medical examiner.
Trachtenberg began her career when she was just 9 years old in Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete and Pete.”
A year later, in 1996, she made her film debut, playing the title role in “Harriet the Spy.”
The actress moved on to star as Dawn Summers in the hit TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for three years.
Her character was the sister of titular slayer Buffy Summers played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The series ran from 1997 until 2003.
Trachtenberg gained more fame as Georgina Sparks in “Gossip Girl.”
She starred alongside Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford, and Penn Badgley in the hit drama series.
“Gossip Girl” ran from 2007 until 2012.
Trachtenberg, who started acting as a child, enjoyed an enduring run as an actress during the Nineties and 2000s.
She had starring and supporting roles in an array of popular TV shows and movies geared towards kids, teenagers, and young adults.
Born October 11, 1985, in New York City, Trachtenberg was put in front of cameras before she could even walk.
According to a 1996 Orange County Register story, she appeared in newspaper advertisements as a baby.
Trachtenberg made her TV commercial debut — a spot for Wisk laundry detergent — at age three.
Trachtenberg appeared in more than 100 commercials before securing her first TV role, playing a dying child on an episode of “Law & Order.”
Along with “Pete & Pete” — where she played Nona F. Mecklenberg, neighbor and friend of Younger Pete — Trachtenberg had an early recurring part on the hit soap opera “All My Children.”
In the show, she played Lily Montgomery, the adopted, autistic daughter of Jackson Montgomery, the longstanding character played by Walt Willey.
Trachtenberg continued to act regularly in the 2010s, mostly in TV where she had a main role on the short-lived show “Mercy.”
She also had small parts in “Love Bites” and “Weeds.”
The actress also appeared in web series like “Guidance” and “Human Kind Of,” and films such as “17 Again,” “Cop Out,” and “The Scribbler.”
In 2021, Trachtenberg was one of several actresses to raise misconduct allegations against “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” showrunner Joss Whedon.
Trachtenberg accused Whedon of inappropriate behavior.
While she did not provide specifics, she alleged:
“There was a rule saying [Whedon] is not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again.”
Whedon would later deny the various claims against him.
In recent years, Trachtenberg’s output had slowed, though she did host the true crime series, “Meet, Marry, Murder.”
She later reprised her role as Georgina on the short-lived “Gossip Girl” reboot.
Recently, Trachtenberg’s posts on social media had sparked some concerns among fans about her health.
Last January, she wrote on Instagram:
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance.
“I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy.”
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