Michelle Trachtenberg death: Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to Buffy co-star
Sarah Michelle Gellar has paid tribute to her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, who has died aged 39.
Gossip Girl actor Trachtenberg, who starred in a myriad of 90s and 2000s TV shows and movies, was reportedly found dead by her mother in her New York City apartment near Central Park on 26 February.
The actor played Buffy's sister Dawn in later seasons of the hit show and, the following day, Gellar memorialised her by modifying a famous line of dialogue from an episode of the series, in which Buffy urged her sister to flourish in life as she prepared to sacrifice her own.
'Michelle, listen to me,' Gellar wrote. 'Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.'
Gellar also added a key emoji in reference to Trachtenberg's character on the show. Shortly after arriving in the series, Dawn was revealed to be the human form of a mythical key with the power to unlock another dimension.
Her post, which was awaited by dedicated fans of the fantasy show, was met with an outpouring of emotion, with many sharing their sadness and grief in response.
The NYPD confirmed they found Trachtenberg 'unconscious and unresponsive' and she was pronounced dead by emergency medical workers.
Her cause of death is not yet known, though police are not treating it as suspicious, sources told the New York Post. The New York Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death,
The actor's untimely death has sent shockwaves among millennials, who grew up watching her in several iconic titles, including the 2005 sports movie Ice Princess, the 1996 family comedy Harriet the Spy and the 2009 Zac Efron-led comedy fantasy 17 Again.
More of Trachtenberg's former co-stars, including Blake Lively and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), Kim Cattrall (Ice Princess) and Rosie O'Donnell (Harriet the Spy), have also reacted to the 'heartbreaking' news of her passing.
Westwick paid tribute to her on Instagram, writing: 'So sad to hear of the passing of [Michelle Trachtenberg]. Sending prayers,' while O'Donnell said in a statement: 'I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.'
Michelle Trachtenberg dead: Ice Princess and Gossip Girl actor was 39
Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg has died at 39-years-old, according to reports.
News of the actor's death broke on Wednesday. She was known for various movie and television appearances throughout the 90s and early 2000s.
According to police sources who spoke to The New York Post, Trachtenberg's cause of death is not currently known, but is not being investigated as suspicious.
The actor's cause of death is not yet known
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 18:10
Michelle Trachtenberg cause of death
The NYPD has confirmed the Gossip Girl star was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' in her New York City Wednesday morning by police and pronounced dead by EMS workers.
Trachtenberg's cause of death is not yet known, though police are not treating it as suspicious.
According to the New York Post, Trachtenberg recently underwent a liver transplant.
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 18:22
Michelle Trachtenberg's latest Instagram activity before her death
In the weeks leading up to her death, Trachtenberg reminisced about some of her favorite red carpet looks on Instagram.
Her final post — made a week before her death — was an old photo of her at the 2013 premiere of National Geographic Channel's Killing Kennedy, in which she starred as Marina Oswald.
'I wanted to look like naughty,' she wrote in the caption.
26 February 2025 18:49
Michelle Trachtenberg sparked health concerns last year
In January 2024, Michelle Trachtenberg posted a selfie on Instagram, prompting widespread concern among fans about her health.
'These kids….now adults getting our roots/hair done! Love this girl,' she wrote in the caption of the post, alongside a picture of her and Spy Kids star Alexa PenaVega at the salon.
Afterward, the comment section was bombarded with users questioning her appearance. 'Michelle you look sick. Are you okay?' one asked.
'Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I'm not 14. I'm 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment,' she responded at the time.
In a later post, she assured fans that she was 'happy and healthy.'
'Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realise I'm not 14. I'm 38,' actor wrote on Instagram
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 19:07
Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick 'saddened' by death of former co-star
Michelle Trachtenberg's Gossip Girl co-star Ed Westwick has reacted to the news of her untimely passing.
Westwick, 37, who starred as Chuck Bass in the seminal teen drama, shared an old picture of Trachtenberg in costume as her Gossip Girl character Georgina Sparks to his Instagram Story.
'So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg sending prayers [praying hands and white heart emoji],' he wrote.
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 19:22
Rosie O'Donnell claims Trachtenberg 'struggled' before her death
Rosie O'Donnell, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in the 1996 family comedy Harriet the Spy, has shared a statement with US Weekly.
Calling Trachtenberg's death 'heartbreaking,' O'Donnell said: 'I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish could have helped.'
Trachtenberg was only 10 years old when she starred in Harriet the Spy. Her role as the titular school-age wannabe spy marked her movie acting debut.
O'Donnell portrayed Ole Golly, Harriet's whimsical nanny.
26 February 2025 19:38
VIDEO: Buffy and Gossip Girl actor Michelle Trachtenburg dead
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 20:00
Kenan Thompson says 'our first Nick movie star has departed us'
Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson paid tribute to Trachtenburg on Instagram, writing: 'Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!! 🙏🏾 Check on your people!!!'
Kevin Perry26 February 2025 21:20
Trachtenberg remembered as 'funny' and 'kind' by Gossip Girl creators
'We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle's passing,' Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage expressed in a statement to NBC News. 'Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented. Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons.'
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 21:38
Kim Cattrall honors Trachtenberg in sweet Instagram tribute
Kim Cattrall has paid tribute to Trachtenberg, whom she co-starred with in Disney's 2005 sports movie Ice Princess.
'Rest in peace sweet Michele [broken heart emoji],' the Sex and the City star wrote alongside an old picture of the two of them from the film.
Trachtenberg led the family classic as Casey, an aspiring professional figure skater. Cattrall portrayed Tina, the mother of Casey's rival, who later becomes a coach to Casey.
Inga Parkel26 February 2025 22:02
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Blake Lively speaks out on Justin Baldoni's £294m defamation lawsuit dismissal
Blake Lively initially launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni - who has strongly refuted the claims - after the pair worked together on It Ends With Us Blake Lively has spoken out for the first time since she was cleared in the $400million (£294million) defamation and extortion lawsuit filed by her It Ends with Us collaborator Justin Baldoni. The actress' powerful statement comes just hours after a judge dismissed Justin's case. Blake, 37, said on Instagram: "Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organisations united in defending women's rights to speak up for their safety. "Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back." Blake initially launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin - who has strongly refuted the claims. However, he hit back with the $400million defamation claim against her, her publicist and husband Ryan Reynolds, all of whom have dismissed the accusations. But after the judge chucked out Justin's claims, a source close to the Los Angeles-born actress said: "Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit." The row happened after Blake and Justin, 41, starred together in It Ends With Us, a romcom released last year. The alleged sexual harassment occurred during production for that film, which Justin directed. But now, speaking after the dismissal, Blake added she was "more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story". The Gossip Girl actress, who has four children with Ryan Reynolds, "With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don't. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you." Last month, Blake's pal Taylor Swift was dragged into the scandal when she was officially subpoenaed to appear as a witness. The pop star was delivered a legal notice by Justin's lawyer Bryan Freedman - a decision which had been slammed by her team as a tactic to create clickbait. In a move that appeared to please Blake and Taylor, it was confirmed Justin would no longer be calling on the Bad Blood hitmaker to appear as a witness. Bryan Freedman had claimed Blake had called on "her high-profile friends" including Taylor to "manipulate Justin at every turn." Taylor, who is close friends with Blake, licensed her hit song My Tears Ricochet to be used in the film but was not involved in the making of It Ends With Us, said her reps. Justin has denied all allegations brought about by Blake.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against Blake Lively dismissed by judge
US District Court Judge Lewis Liman's decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama that includes Lively suing Baldoni in late December. Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for 400 million dollars (£294.9 million), accusing Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni cannot sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Judge Liman also ruled that Baldoni's claims that Lively stole creative control of the film did not count as extortion under California law. While Lively was accused in the lawsuit of threatening to refuse to promote the film, Wayfarer does 'not allege facts showing that Lively had an obligation to promote the film or to approve marketing materials', Judge Liman wrote. Baldoni's legal team can revise the lawsuit if it wants to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached a contract, the judge said. It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a 50 million dollar (£36.8 million) debut. But the film's release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively's sexual harassment allegations. 'Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, (publicist) Leslie Sloane and The New York Times,' Lively's lawyers, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said in a prepared statement. The lawyers said they 'look forward to the next round' of seeking lawyers' fees, treble damages and punitive damages. A spokesperson for The New York Times said they were 'grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting'. 'Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism,' Charlie Stadtlander said in a statement. Lively appeared in the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants and the TV series Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012 before starring in films including The Town and The Shallows. Baldoni starred in the TV comedy Jane The Virgin, directed the 2019 film Five Feet Apart and wrote Man Enough, a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Justin Baldoni's lawsuit against Blake Lively dismissed by judge
US District Court Judge Lewis Liman's decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic drama that includes Lively suing Baldoni in late December. Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for 400 million dollars (£294.9 million), accusing Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The judge ruled that Baldoni cannot sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Judge Liman also ruled that Baldoni's claims that Lively stole creative control of the film did not count as extortion under California law. While Lively was accused in the lawsuit of threatening to refuse to promote the film, Wayfarer does 'not allege facts showing that Lively had an obligation to promote the film or to approve marketing materials', Judge Liman wrote. Baldoni's legal team can revise the lawsuit if it wants to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached a contract, the judge said. It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a 50 million dollar (£36.8 million) debut. But the film's release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively's sexual harassment allegations. 'Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, (publicist) Leslie Sloane and The New York Times,' Lively's lawyers, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said in a prepared statement. The lawyers said they 'look forward to the next round' of seeking lawyers' fees, treble damages and punitive damages. Lively appeared in the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants and the TV series Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012 before starring in films including The Town and The Shallows. Baldoni starred in the TV comedy Jane The Virgin, directed the 2019 film Five Feet Apart and wrote Man Enough, a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.
