Former Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg has died. She was 39.
According to The Post, Trachtenberg was found by her mother around 8 a.m. Wednesday at One Columbus Place, a 51-story luxury apartment complex in Manhattan’s Central Park South neighborhood.
The actress allegedly underwent a liver transplant and died of natural causes, a source close to the family told the news outlet.
The NYPD confirmed that authorities responded to a 911 call at the address, and upon arrival, Trachtenberg was found “unconscious and unresponsive.” She was pronounced by EMS workers.
Her death is not deemed suspicious, and the city medical examiner will determine the cause, authorities added.
“The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time,” a representative for Trachtenberg told the press in a statement.
Trachtenberg, a New York City native, made her acting debut as a child star with roles in numerous commercials and Nickelodeon projects, including the television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, All My Children, and the 1996 film, Harriet the Spy.
Her big break came when she landed the role of Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the younger sister of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular character from 2000 to 2003. The role earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice TV Sidekick in 2001.
Trachtenberg’s most prominent role to date, however, was playing Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl from 2008 to 2012. For her performance, she was nominated for Choice TV Villain at the Teen Choice Awards in 2012.
She reprised her role as Georgina Sparks in 2023 on Max’s Gossip Girl reboot.
“It’s kind of easy to be evil when you’re saying evil things,” she told Seventeen of her “Gossip Girl” role in 2009. “It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl. I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don’t want to play villains or evil characters.”
In the year leading up to her death, Trachtenberg sparked concern among fans due to a drastic change in her appearance.
But she clapped back, saying:
“Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar.”
In another Instagram post, she addressed the speculation directly, writing:
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Trachtenberg’s final Instagram post was seven days ago, where she shared a throwback of herself wanting to “look like naughty #tinkerbell.”
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