27-02-2025
Sarah Michelle Gellar posts Buffy inspired 'brave' tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg
Sarah Michelle Gellar has paid tribute to her Buffy The Vampire Slayer co-star Michelle Trachtenberg following her death at the age of 39. Gellar, who played Buffy, the older sister of Trachtenberg's character Dawn, posted photos alongside a modified quote taken from a scene in the popular 2000s US TV show, where Buffy tells her younger sister to 'be brave'.
Gellar wrote on Instagram: 'Michelle, listen to me. 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's tribute was inspired by the musical episode Once More, With Feeling when Dawn tells Buffy the 'hardest thing in this world, is to live in it', after the slayer has confessed that she is feeling depressed after being resurrected from heaven in season six. She also shared images of her and Trachtenberg during the show and behind the scenes with the cast.
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During the musical episode, Trachtenberg sang a duet What You Feel with a demon, and also was part of the songs Where Do We Go From Here?, and the end of Give Me Something To Sing About with Gellar.
Trachtenberg was confirmed to have died after emergency medical services arrived at One Columbus Place, New York, following a call at about 8am on Wednesday, the city's police department said. Her death is not being treated as suspicious and the police said the medical examiner will determine the cause of her death.
A representative for Trachtenberg told the PA news agency: 'It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.'
Fellow Buffy and Angel actress Charisma Carpenter has also paid tribute to Trachtenberg saying she left an 'undeniable impact' on fans of the supernatural series worldwide. Trachtenberg joined the fifth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer as Buffy Summers' sister Dawn Summers after the departure of Carpenter – who moved on to continue playing vain cheerleader Cordelia Chase on spin-off show Angel.
Carpenter wrote on Instagram on Thursday: 'I did not know Michelle as well as some of my other colleagues from Buffy, but it is never easy to see someone so young, bright, beautiful, and full of promise pass away. It's devastating, actually.
'I extend my deepest condolences to those who knew her better than I did — those who had the pleasure of working with her, those who loved her with all their might, her family, and her partner, whom I never met. I'm so sorry for your loss.
'I would be remiss not to acknowledge the undeniable impact she has had on the lives of her fans worldwide. She will live on through her performances and her love of storytelling forever. Rest easy, Michelle.'
Born in 1985 in New York, Trachtenberg began her acting career at the age of three, appearing in adverts before landing roles on TV. She went on to secure a role in children's sitcom, The Adventures Of Pete & Pete, and in 1996's Harriet The Spy as an 11-year-old given to spying and concocting outrageous lies to embellish her journal.
She was also known for playing Penny in the 1999 spy film, Inspector Gadget, Jenny in the 2004 movie, EuroTrip, 2005 sports comedy Ice Princess, 2009 teen comedy, 17 Again, alongside Zac Efron, and most recently she reprised her role in the second series of the Gossip Girl sequel.
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