Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her role in the superhit show, Gossip Girl, was found dead at her New York residence at the age of 39 on February 26. According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), she was “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Manhattan apartment when her mother found her.
While the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, the NYPD has ruled out any criminal involvement.
Officials of the NYPD said that they reached Michelle’s residence shortly after they received a 911 call post 8 am. Emergency workers pronounced the actress dead at the scene.
Michelle’s publicist, Gary Mantoosh, confirmed her death and said in the official statement, “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.”
It is to be noted that it was only a few months ago that Michelle had undergone a liver transplant. Reports stated that the complications from the transplant could have led to her death, but it has not been confirmed by officials yet.
Blake Lively remembers Michelle
Michelle’s Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively took to her Instagram handle to pen a heartbreaking note. “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed to the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head-on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself. And she always had yummy caramel-smelling lip gloss because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lip gloss because she cared about the sweet details.”
She went on to say, “She was a kind person through and through. Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.”
“Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire,” Blake added.
Michelle Trachtenberg’s career
Michelle appeared on the screen for the first time when she was just 3. She featured in several commercials, until she bagged her first television project, the Nickelodeon series, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which premiered in the mid 90s.
She marked her film debut at the age of 10 when she was cast in the 1996 film, Harriet The Spy. But it was her teen drama, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which propelled her to fame and success. She was a part of the show for three seasons.
She later went on to star in the sitcom, Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. In the show, she played Georgina Sparks. In 2022, she briefly reprised her role for Gossip Girl Reboot.
In 2009, she also shared the screen with the likes of Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Matthew Perry and others in the comedy film, 17 Again.
