NEW YORK — Michelle Trachtenberg, a beloved former child actress who charmed audiences in the 1996 film “Harriet the Spy” and became notable for her roles in two popular TV dramas, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl,” has passed away at the age of 39.
Police officers responded to an emergency call shortly after 8 a.m. at a luxury high-rise apartment building in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen area. They found Trachtenberg unresponsive, as per a statement from the NYPD. Emergency medical personnel declared her dead at the scene, with no indications of foul play. The cause of death is under investigation by the New York Medical Examiner.
Seeking privacy during this difficult time, Trachtenberg’s family has chosen not to comment further, according to her representative, Gary Mantoosh, in a statement made public on Wednesday.
Trachtenberg’s acting journey commenced at the tender age of 8 on Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete & Pete,” where she portrayed Nona Mecklenberg from 1994 to 1996. Her breakthrough arrived when she starred as the lead character in “Harriet the Spy” and appeared alongside Matthew Broderick in “Inspector Gadget.” In 1996, Debby Beece, the president of Nickelodeon Movies, praised her authenticity, claiming audiences related to her candid demeanor.
Her career further flourished when she joined the cast of “Buffy” in 2000, portraying Dawn Summers, the younger sibling of the protagonist played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, continuing in this role until 2003. Trachtenberg later expressed gratitude towards Gellar in 2021 for standing against Joss Whedon amidst allegations of misconduct. On social media, she expressed newfound courage at 35, commenting on the inappropriate behaviors she experienced on set as a teenager.
In 2001, Trachtenberg hosted Discovery’s “Truth or Scare,” earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for her efforts. Her career continued with recurring roles in series such as “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds,” and “Gossip Girl,” where she portrayed the scheming Georgina Sparks. Her portrayal earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination for TV villain in 2012. In a 2009 interview with Seventeen, she remarked on how thrilling it was to play such characters.
Trachtenberg reprised her fan-favorite role briefly in the 2021 revival of “Gossip Girl.” Further cementing her enduring presence in pop culture, she appeared in Fall Out Boy’s music video for “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” alongside Seth Green.
Friends and colleagues from Hollywood have paid tribute to Trachtenberg, who navigated the journey from child star to mature actress. Her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star, David Boreanaz, shared his sorrow on Instagram, while Melissa Gilbert, her co-star in “A Holiday for Love,” expressed heartfelt condolences.
Among Trachtenberg’s other credits, she played a teenage math prodigy in the 2005 movie “Ice Princess,” a film the AP described as well-intentioned despite its simplicity and lauded her performance reminiscent of her “Buffy” days.
Born in New York City, Trachtenberg also starred in the teen comedy “EuroTrip” (2004), shared the screen with Zac Efron in “17 Again” (2009), and showcased her versatility as a criminal on “Criminal Minds.”
In the 2013 film “Killing Kennedy,” she took on the role of Lee Harvey Oswald’s wife, delivering around 80% of her lines in Russian, thanks to her mother’s influence during her upbringing. Her filmography includes roles in “Mysterious Skin” (2004) and “Black Christmas” (2006), as well as starring alongside Taylor Schilling on NBC’s “Mercy” during 2009–2010. More recently, she hosted the true-crime series “Meet, Marry, Murder” on Tubi.
