In brief
Michelle Trachtenberg, famed for her roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl," has passed away at the age of 39. The New York Police Department confirmed her death, stating it was not suspicious in nature.
Michelle Trachtenberg, who captivated audiences in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has died at the age of 39, as confirmed by the New York Police Department. The actress gained recognition as Dawn Summers on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" before portraying the scheming Georgina Sparks on "Gossip Girl," which aired from 2007 to 2012. An emergency call report issued on Wednesday led police to find her "unconscious and unresponsive," and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are currently investigating, but have noted that there is no suspicion of foul play.Starting her acting career at merely three years old on Nickelodeon's "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," Trachtenberg drew critical acclaim and several nominations, including a Daytime Emmy Award, for her work on "Buffy." She also starred in notable films such as "EuroTrip," "Ice Princess," "Killing Kennedy," and "Sister Cities." Her last role was in the true-crime docuseries "Meet, Marry, Murder," released on Tubi in 2021. Trachtenberg made headlines in the same year, accusing "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon of inappropriate behavior on set, following similar claims made by her co-star Charisma Carpenter. Whedon has denied these allegations.
