In the aftermath of actress Michelle Trachtenberg‘s untimely death, fans are looking back to the months leading up to the heartbreaking development for answers or signs. The reflection has led many to find unkind comments on Trachtenberg’s social media, where followers berated the actress for what they believed to be drug abuse.

As it turns out, Trachtenberg was struggling with severe health issues, leading to a liver transplant. Police sources told ABC News that she could have been dealing with complications from that procedure, as she is believed to have died of natural causes. On Friday, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that the actress’ cause of death would remain undetermined as a result of her family’s objection to an autopsy for religious reasons.

But Trachtenberg’s death, at just 39, has reopened a conversation that previously emerged surrounding the death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. The Black Panther actor was 43 when he died, and had drawn attention in the months prior for his gaunt appearance — as it turns out, he was battling colon cancer, and had been for four years.

The advent of social media and the increased exposure of celebrities lives and appearances to the public have led to an exponential growth in hateful commentary, previously reserved for the comment section of gossip magazines. Society has tried and completely failed to learn online manners, as these platforms have grown more and more akin to the Wild, Wild West. Anonymity and the pervasiveness of a very special brand of sardonicism have served as fuel for an urge to judge others that seems inherent to the human condition.

Unfortunately, remorse is scarce and only seems to materialize when tragedies happen. Celebrities, however sheltered by money and fame, are especially vulnerable to criticism and judgment thanks to their public lifestyle. Many, like Boseman and Trachtenberg, choose to keep parts of their lives private, particularly regarding their health, but even that doesn’t protect them from the mean-spirited, faultfinding masses.

The actress did address the comments at one point. Multiple outlets reported that she responded to one of them, saying, “Explain to me how I look sick. Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14? I’m 38,” and adding, “How sad for you to leave such a comment.” In another post from Jan. 20, Trachtenberg wrote, “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition, no problems. Why do you have to hate?”

Of course, and disappointingly, asking for kindness and respect online has never really done much in the way of gaining them. Indeed, it seems engaging with the hateful rhetoric only makes it worse. These people aren’t actually concerned with the wellbeing of the celebrities they attack, but rather are looking for a quick way to feel superior for that one millisecond of their boring days.

It shouldn’t take a person dying for empathy to become the trend, but sadly, and as the current political climate highlights, the sentiment is very much an endangered species. Your empty thoughts and prayers now, posted as a way to farm engagement, won’t fix the fact that Michelle Trachtenberg had to read those comments.

Real fans of the actress opted to celebrate her work and her contributions to so many of our childhoods while she was still alive. We’re sure she felt the love, too, as drowned out as it can often get by all the negativity.

We know that neither Trachtenberg’s death nor this article will change the behavior of those who bothered her in her last few months. Just like Boseman’s didn’t, either. Still, if we don’t at least try, then cruelty will truly have won. Rest in peace, Michelle and Chadwick.

Anyone who was a child in the mid-90s and the early 2000s is mourning the tragic ing of Michelle Trachtenberg at the age of just 39. The former child star is fondly ed for her roles in everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Disney’s Ice Princess, not forgetting her iconic turn in Gossip Girl. Trachtenberg had taken a step back from the limelight in recent years, however, and in the wake of her death it’s becoming clear that this may have been due to ongoing health concerns. 

The much-missed actress’ Harriet the Spy co-star Rosie O’Donnell hinted at the personal struggles Trachtenberg had dealt with in recent times, with O’Donnell itting that she wished she could’ve done more for her. “I loved her very much,” O’Donnell — who played Harriet’s beloved nanny in the 1996 film, which marked the then-10-year-old’s big-screen debut — said in a statement she released to the media following the sad news of Trachtenberg’s ing. “She struggled the last few years. I wish I could’ve helped.”

O’Donnell’s tear-jerking comments echo what an anonymous friend of the late star told People, with the source likewise saying that Trachtenberg had been “struggling” and for the past year had been “really down emotionally” as she faced “health issues” that had left her “really, really sick” and looking “pale, gaunt, and very thin.” It has yet to be announced what exactly the health issues the Inspector Gadget actress was facing were, although it has been confirmed that she recently underwent a liver transplant. It is believed she may have died from complications related to the procedure. 

In addition, Trachtenberg’s on-screen sister Sarah Michelle Gellar — who starred opposite her for three seasons on Buffy — finally broke her silence on Michelle’s ing on Thursday, Feb 27. In a post that is sure to reduce every Buffy fan to an emotional wreck, Gellar shared two screenshots of Buffy and Trachtenberg’s character, Dawn Summers, alongside a paraphrasing of one of the show’s most poignant quotes.

“Michelle, listen to me,” Gellar wrote, adapting a quote Buffy says to Dawn in the series’ season 5 finale, “The Gift.” She continued, “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.”

Trachtenberg’s ing comes just a few weeks after Gellar announced that a Buffy revival was in the works, with herself attached to reprise her role and be involved creatively, over 20 years on from the series’ conclusion in 2003. As the reboot is only in the early stages of development at present, it’s currently unclear if there were any plans for Trachtenberg to return alongside her or if her death will impact the project in any way.

Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York apartment by her mother on Wednesday, Feb. 26. She is survived by her family and her boyfriend, talent agent Jay Cohen. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this time.

Michelle Trachtenberg had a Hollywood careers that spanned decades, from child star, to teen icon, to scene-stealing TV villain. She has jumped between comedies, dramas, and even a horror flick or two. While she snagged plenty of movie roles, some of her best work happened on TV. To honor and her legacy, let’s celebrate some of her best roles to see how they stack up. And yes, the standard of greatness is on the list, because nobody kept us on our toes quite like the chaotic Georgina Sparks.

7. The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996)

Before she was Harriet, Dawn, or Georgina, Michelle Trachtenberg played Nona F. Mecklenberg on The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Trachtenberg was the best friend of Little Pete, and their friendship was a highlight of the show. She was quirky, fun, and had a cast on her arm for basically an entire season.

6. 17 Again (2009)

This Zac Efron-Matthew Perry body-swap comedy was a massive hit, and while Trachtenberg wasn’t the star, she played a key role as Maggie O’Donnell, the teenage daughter of a dad who magically reverts to his 17-year-old self. Her storyline of dealing with her parents’ separation, her high school boyfriend, and the weirdest possible crush situation gave the movie some unexpected emotional weight.

5. Ice Princess (2005)

If you were a Disney Channel kid in the mid-2000s, Ice Princess was the Michelle Trachtenberg movie. Casey Carlyle, a physics nerd with a ion for figure skating, is a classic coming-of-age story, complete with ive but strict moms, and high school drama. Trachtenberg is perfect as the determined, awkward, and lovable underdog.

4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000-2003)

Few character introductions in TV history were as wild as Dawn Summers’. Trachtenberg played Dawn, Buffy’s little sister, who went from normal teenager to mystical entity to full-on hero. She held her own alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and the rest of the Buffy cast, proving she could handle drama, action, and emotional depth all at once. She was the perfect mix of teenage angst, vulnerability, and frustration. While some fans found Dawn annoying, what teenage girl wouldn’t be dramatic in her situation? Love her or hate her, Dawn Summers was unforgettable.

3. Mysterious Skin (2004)

This is hands down the most intense and unsettling movie Trachtenberg was ever part of. Trachtenberg plays Wendy, the best friend of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Neil. Directed by Gregg Araki, Mysterious Skin follows two young men dealing with the traumatic effects of childhood abuse in very different ways. While her role isn’t huge, she brings warmth and stability to a film that is otherwise deeply disturbing.

2. Harriet the Spy (1996)

Harriet the Spy is the movie that introduced Michelle Trachtenberg to the world, and it remains one of her most beloved roles. As Harriet M. Welsch, an 11-year-old aspiring writer who keeps a detailed notebook of everything around her, Trachtenberg owned this role. She was equal parts spunky, relatable, and unforgettable until her classmates found her notes, and everything fell apart. It’s the ultimate ‘90s childhood classic that probably scarred every kid who watched it. Trachtenberg was only nine when she filmed this, but she carried the entire movie like a pro.

1. Gossip Girl (2008-2012)

Let’s be honest with ourselves, Gossip Girl had a lot of schemers, but no one did it better than Georgina Sparks. From the moment Georgina showed up, she caused absolute mayhem. She was manipulative, unpredictable, and always had a new trick up her sleeve. Whether she was blackmailing Serena, pretending to be a devout Christian, or casually ruining lives just for fun, Georgina never failed to entertain. Even in the polarizing Gossip Girl revival, Georgina was back in top form, because nothing happens in the Upper East Side without her stirring the pot. Without a doubt, this is the role that cemented Michelle Trachtenberg as a TV icon.

Michelle Trachtenberg’s tragic ing at 39 has left millions of fans heartbroken, even more so now that new details about her health struggles before her death have emerged. Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, reportedly underwent a liver transplant within the last year, and insiders suggest her body may have rejected the organ.

Although an official cause of death has not been released yet, sources close to the situation have already claimed that Trachtenberg ed away of natural causes. Authorities are also not treating her death as suspicious. However, many are still wondering about the circumstances that led to Trachtenberg’s untimely demise.

According to earlier reports, Trachtenberg’s mother, Lana Trachtenberg, found her daughter “unconscious and unresponsive” in her New York City apartment early Wednesday, Feb. 26. Emergency responders arrived shortly after the discovery at around 8 a.m., but it was too late. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her rep later confirmed the tragic news in a statement to Us Weekly: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has ed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

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Hours after the announcement, we learned that in the months leading to her death, her declining health became a concern among those close to her. A source told People that the actress had been “really down emotionally” and openly confided in friends about her struggles. “She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling,” the insider revealed.

While she never publicly disclosed any medical conditions, sources told ABC News that her liver transplant, performed within the last year, may have led to fatal complications. Insiders itted that she looked “pale, gaunt, and very thin” in recent months.

The liver is responsible for the removal of toxins from our blood. When it malfunctions, certain mechanisms, like blood sugar level and blood clotting regulations, are affected. A liver transplant is only necessary when one’s liver is severely diseased and incapable of functioning, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Although replacing an unhealthy liver is doable, the outcome of the medical procedure is uncertain, as the body may still reject the new organ, causing serious complications. Because of this, patients who undergo liver transplants are expected to monitor their health with the help of medical professionals for the rest of their lives.

Since Trachtenberg never revealed her condition, it’s unclear what really caused her death. It’s worth noting, however, that fans previously raised concerns after she shared a selfie on Instagram in January 2024, looking dramatically thinner.

But at the time, the actress strongly defended herself against unwarranted speculations. “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 clapped back at those who left criticisms on her post. In another post, she adamantly stated: “I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy.”

Her final Instagram came on Feb. 18, and it was a throwback to a sultry red carpet look she described as “naughty Tinker Bell.” Just a week before, she had posted a more recent picture captioned, “Eye of the Tiger.”

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Trachtenberg’s acting career spanned decades. She got her start in commercials before landing roles in The Adventures of Pete & Pete and All My Children at just 9 years old. Her breakout role came in Harriet the Spy (1996), followed by her fan-favorite portrayal of Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

She later gained notoriety as the scheming Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl, a role she reprised for the show’s Max reboot in 2023, which is now considered her final onscreen appearance. Her other notable credits include 17 Again, EuroTrip, and Ice Princess.

A beloved celebrity’s ing is a hard pill to swallow, especially when that celebrity has been in the public eye since they were a kid, and even more so when that death comes far too soon. At just 39 years old, Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for starring in pop culture phenomena like Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gossip Girl, ed away in her New York City apartment on Feb. 26, 2025.

Although less active in recent years — her last acting credit was a two-episode stint in the Gossip Girl revival in 2022 — Trachtenberg’s time on screen goes all the way back to 1991, when she appeared in Law & Order at just six years old. She pocketed several major TV roles as a kid, including a stint on All My Children in 1994, and on the Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1994 to 1996. Trachtenberg’s broke into the feature film sphere with the beloved classic Harriet the Spy in 1996, which set her up for a string of bigger roles, including her three-year run as the character Dawn in the cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Trachtenberg is perhaps best recognized for starring in films such as EuroTrip, Ice Princess, and 17 Again, but many will always her as the havoc-wreaking young socialite Georgina Sparks in the CW original series Gossip Girl.

It feels nearly unfathomable to speak about Trachtenberg in the past tense, and it goes without saying that there are questions as to her untimely ing.

Do we know Michelle Trachtenberg’s cause of death?

EMS workers, who showed up at Trachtenberg’s NYC apartment shortly after 8am in response to a 911 call, have not ruled Trachtenberg’s death as suspicious. She was pronounced dead at the scene and “criminality [was] not suspected,” according to NYPD, as first reported by the New York Post. Trachtenberg was found by her mother, Lana Trachtenberg.

An official cause of death has not been announced at the time of writing; however, it has been reported that Trachtenberg recently underwent a liver transplant and that she died of natural causes.

Trachtenberg’s frail appearance had become a topic of concern online in recent years. In early 2024, the actress pushed back against claims she looked sick and malnourished. “Explain to me how I look sick,” she said in one post where the whites of her eyes were pointed out as looking yellow. “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.

“Fun fact. This is my face,” she said in a follow-up post, which made headlines at the time. “Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.” The post effectively tamed the public chatter, but a perusal through her social media will show a steady flow of cautious concern thereafter.

Trachtenberg’s appearance had become the go-to topic of conversation, but the public scrutiny never saw the actress buckle under the weight. As a child star, public scrutiny and cruelty from strangers had become reoccurring themes in her life, with Trachtenberg’s opening up in 2020 Instagram post that she was physically bullied and even thrown down stairs and slammed into lockers as a kid. “I still have scars,” she said at the time.

The bravery to push past struggle became a recurring theme in Trachtenberg’s on- and off-screen life, from toxic work environments on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to characters like Casey Carlyle in her movie Ice Princess, who pushes through hardship and comes out the other side braver.

In fact, I’m reminded of a line told to Trachtenberg’s Buffy character, Dawn, in the final moments of the show’s season 5 finale, where Dawn is forced to confront the harsh reality of living a life without her sister. “The hardest thing in this world is to live in it,” Buffy tells a sobbing Dawn. “Be brave. Live.”

You lived a hell of a life, Michelle, and you showed bravery through it all. May you rest in eternal peace. Our hearts go out to her friends and family, and to all those she touched with her art.

I’ve been a Michelle Trachtenberg fan since I was a little girl, so learning of her premature 2025 death devastated me as much as it did the rest of her millions of fans.

Trachtenberg was a gem of the ’90s, a spunky, charming star who dazzled audiences across dozens of releases between 1991 and 2024. She was also only 39 when she died, leaving the world — and her many fans — far too soon.

While most people know Trachtenberg best as Georgina Sparks or Dawn Summers, a rare few of we millennials grew up on a very different version of the star. We know her as Casey Carlyle, thanks to constant — and I mean constant — reruns of her 2005 teen sports dramedy, Ice Princess.

No, it’s not her best movie, and no, I’m not even saying its a good movie, but will I be watching it this week to celebrate the Trachtenberg movie that helped raise me? Why yes, yes I will. And I assume at least a few other people will be ing me, as they look to relive a moment of their lost youth, and mourn a star who once represented it.

Where to stream Ice Princess

It doesn’t have shining reviews or a stellar Rotten Tomatoes score, but Ice Princess will always hold a place in my heart. This isn’t even a movie I chose to watch on repeat — that honor goes to both Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and, for some reason, The Day After Tomorrow — but watch on repeat I did, simply because it was on. All. The. Time.

Which made me, and a few hundred other Disney Channel frequents, inadvertent but still avid fans of Trachtenberg. I haven’t seen the movie in years, and to be perfectly honest I expect it to be sub-par, at best, but I also know it will make me feel warm and fuzzy inside as only certain films can do.

If you’re looking to me in a rewatch of Trachtenberg’s charming 2005 release — which, by the way, also stars Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, and Hayden Panettiere — it’s thankfully nice and available on streaming. So long as you’ve got a Disney Plus subscription, that is. The film that used to drench Disney Channel re-runs is now settled nice and cozy on the streaming app, where nostalgic fans can go to enjoy it.

The 2005 release follows Trachtenberg’s Casey Carlyle, an academically-minded teen who tosses out her college career for a shot at being a figure skater. She uses her smarts to develop her skills, and ultimately tests her growing talent in a major competition. Its not the most original idea, and its delivery is shaky at points, but its our unoriginal, shaky final product.

There’s just so much to love in the silly, utterly 2000s release. Trachtenberg is surprisingly good on those skates, despite never having skated before ing the film, and various cheeky references to everyone from Tonya Harding to The Titans make it a time capsule of sorts. It won’t change your life, but it might make Trachtenberg’s ing a little less heartbreaking, and in these awful times we could all use a boost.

Michelle Trachtenberg ed away at the age of 39, and fans are processing this tragic news and ing her impressive career. In early 2025, fans saw photos of the actress on Instagram and wondered if she was alright, especially since she hasn’t appeared in many movies or TV shows recently .

Although she is famous for playing the conniving Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl and Buffy’s younger sister Dawn Summers on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Trachtenberg is known to many (including this millennial) as Harriet M. Welsh, the young star of Harriet the Spy. Where can fans watch this 1996 movie, which is adapted from the book by Louise Fitzhugh, and this sweet actress?

Where is the Michelle Trachtenberg movie Harriet the Spy streaming?

Harriet the Spy is streaming on hoopla and plutotv, according to Justwatch.com. Fans can also rent the movie on AppleTV.

I can’t overstate how formative Harriet the Spy was when I was a kid. After watching Trachtenberg play the smart, ambitious, and confident main character who keeps a journal and pays a lot of attention to everyone in her life, I wanted to carry a notebook with me everywhere, too (and it had to be black and white, just like Harriet’s). Could I please be cool like Harriet and write all my thoughts down?

While it’s a cheesy ’90s movie in many ways, Trachtenberg’s Harriet the Spy asks some interesting questions about what being a writer means. There’s a fine line between spying on others and learning the power and art of observation. While it takes her a while to figure this out, she’s expressing herself, which is pretty cool. The movie also has a nice message about being kind to others, which, honestly, people of any age should . Who could forget mean girl Marion Hawthorne (Charlotte Sullivan) putting blue paint on Harriet during a particularly memorable art class scene? The movie touches on friendship, family, and growing up, and it has stayed with so many people for so many years.

I wasn’t the only one super invested in Trachtenberg’s Harriet the Spy character’s journey. In 2021, the actress told Entertainment Tonight that fans have said to her, “You inspired my life. You made me become a writer” and called the messages “beautiful things.” It was her first movie, and while she acted in other films such as 17 Again, Ice Princess, Black Christmas, and Mysterious Skin, Harriet the Spy definitely made her a star. In her ET interview, Trachtenberg also called O’Donnell her “biggest er,” which warms my heart.

Harriet the Spy also had an awesome cast including the adorable Gregory Smith as Harriet’s friend Sport, and Rosie O’Donnell as Harriet’s charming nanny, whom she calls Ole Golly. O’Donnell’s character gives some awesome advice, like when she says, “You’re an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it’s gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life.” Also, it’s not possible to ever hear the James Brown song “Get Up Offa That Thing” without ing Harriet, Sport, and Janie Gibbs (Vanessa Lee Chester) playing a prank on their classmates and dancing at the end of the movie.

I’ll be rewatching Harriet the Spy in Trachtenberg’s memory and thinking about the inspiring Harriet who just wanted to be understood and the talented actress who is gone too soon.

Beloved ’90s icon Michelle Trachtenberg is still on the acting scene, but she’s far less busy these days.

That’s typical, even for treasured Hollywood stars. Many of our favorite stars undergo spells of mass popularity before settling into a much more manageable pace. There are exceptions, of course, but Trachtenberg’s post-early-2000s career followed in the classic track of teenage heartthrobs.

Following her heyday on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg continued to appear on-screen, just in gradually more scattered roles. All that early career success should mean she’s freed up to live a little outside of work, and no one’s blaming her for doing just that.

Trachtenberg keeps her fans updated on her life via her Instagram page, and that’s where a wave of concern for the star started. Following the rise of several recent shots of the star, Trachtenberg’s fans experienced growing concern. It’s entirely normal for people — even stars *gasp* — to change as they age, but are shifts in Trachtenberg’s appearance the result of time, or something else?

Is Michelle Trachtenberg sick?

Trachtenberg has always been a beautiful woman, and that hasn’t changed now that she’s pushing 40. What has changed, however, are minor features on her face, including the prominence of her cheekbones and jaw. The star’s followers noted these changes in her look, along with several others in recent photos, and sparked a widespread conversation while sharing their concerns online.

Those concerns eventually reached Trachtenberg herself, who was quick to dismiss them. These changes people are noticing, which they’re broadly labeling as an overarching “sick” appearance, are nothing to worry about, according to the woman herself. She clapped back at several Instagram comments, claiming infirmity by noting that she’s “not 14” anymore. She’s gotten older, and our faces, bodies, and everything else change as we age.

Trachtenberg doesn’t seem to be big on filters — bless her — which is also likely a culprit behind people’s concern. We’ve become so accustomed to the Kardashian mindset that sees many of our favorite stars leaning on makeup, filters, and injections to stave off the appearance of aging. Trachtenberg isn’t among them, and we should be thanking her for it.

That’s not to say that people were entirely wrong to be concerned. For one thing, in most cases that concern was born of love, even if it was misguided. For another, there are legitimate reasons some people thought she looked sick. Her angular bone structure aside, there are one or two photos on Trachtenberg’s Instagram that make the whites of her eyes appear yellow. That can be a sign of potentially serious liver issues and absolutely deserves to be looked into.

But I’m inclined to believe Trachtenberg when she tells us all is well. If she’s not worried over her health — and, more importantly, when she tells us to back off — the rest of us have no right to keep sticking our noses in. If there’s actually anything to be concerned about, I’m sure Trachtenberg will update us eventually. In the meantime, we can all just celebrate her for the authentic, unfiltered queen she is.