Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress beloved for her roles in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has passed away at the age of 39. First reported by the New York Post, Trachtenberg was found unresponsive in her New York City apartment by her mother on the morning of February 26, 2025.
Born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, Trachtenberg began acting at a young age, quickly gaining recognition for her talent. She first gained national attention as the title character in Harriet The Spy (1996) before stepping into her most iconic role as Dawn Summers in Buffy The Vampire Slayer in 2000. She later captivated audiences as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, a character known for stirring up drama among the elite of the Upper East Side alongside Penn Badgley, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, and others.
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Beyond television, Trachtenberg made a name for herself in film, starring in EuroTrip (2004) and Disney’s Ice Princess (2005). She also made a cameo in Fall Out Boy’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” music video in 2007. She later appeared in the Joaquin Phoenix-directed music video for Ringside’s “Tired of Being Sorry” in 2009 and the video for the Trapt’s “Echo.”
In recent years, Trachtenberg has posted multiple “throwback” style photos to her Instagram, reminiscing on past roles, red carpets, fun memories, and more. Just a week ago, she posted a playful throwback captioned, “I wanted to look like naughty #Tinkerbell.”
Tributes from fans and colleagues have begun to pour in across social media, honoring her legacy and impact on pop culture. User itswaldorfcloset, an account dedicated to the style and fashion of Gossip Girl, comments, “Rest in peace. We will miss you so much. Words can’t describe.” Vintage Fantasy Magazine writes on the post, “Rest in peace you were always a huge support for artists and were such a talent. We will all miss you.”
Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends, and fans as they mourn the heartbreaking loss of Michelle Trachtenberg.
