Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, has sadly passed away at 39. Police confirm there’s no foul play involved, so her death isn’t being treated as suspicious.
Michelle made her mark on TV, especially with her role as Buffy’s little sister, Dawn Summers, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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She was also Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl. In recent years, though, some fans were worried about her health after seeing her share some posts where she looked pretty frail.
Michelle’s memorable TV roles shaped her career
Michelle’s big break was as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She appeared in 66 episodes and really became a fan favorite.
Later, she took on the role of Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, popping up in 28 episodes and adding plenty of drama to the Upper East Side. Those are probably the two roles people remember her most for.
Recent health concerns sparked online discussions
In the last few years, Michelle’s fans started noticing something off in her social media posts. She looked a little too thin, which made people worry about her health.
Some fans even started leaving concerned comments about her appearance, asking if she was okay.
Michelle returned for the Gossip Girl reboot
Fast forward to 2023, Michelle came back to Gossip Girl in the reboot. She played Georgina again in two episodes, and fans were excited to see her return.
Even though it was a small role, she brought her usual fiery energy to the screen.
Behind the scenes: Michelle’s true-crime docuseries
In 2021, Michelle took a step back from acting and got behind the scenes as an executive producer and host for Meet, Marry, Murder, a true-crime docuseries on Tubi TV.
She hosted 13 episodes, giving fans a whole new side of her. It was cool to see her trying something different, and she did a great job with it.
She also dipped her toes into voiceover work
In 2018, she voiced a character in Robot Chicken, which was created by her friend Seth Green.
She also voiced a role in Human Kind Of, a Facebook Watch series. It was fun to see her branching out into different projects.
A commercial at age three marked her first appearance
Michelle started early. Her first TV gig was when she was only three years old. It was a commercial for Wisk detergent. Crazy, right? She was pretty much born for the spotlight!
Michelle defends herself against health comments
A few years ago, Michelle got fed up with people commenting on her appearance. She posted a picture and responded, “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition, no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar.”
She was clearly frustrated with all the judgment, and you can’t really blame her.
The drama that unfolded on social media
Things really kicked off on Instagram when Michelle posted a picture of herself getting her hair done at a Beverly Hills salon. One user asked if she was okay, saying she looked sick.
Michelle clapped back, saying, “@cathy_critz 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.”
Michelle responded to fans’ concerns
The next day, Michelle posted another selfie, showing off her pink-tipped hair with a caption that pretty much shut down the haters.
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery. I am happy and healthy. Check yourself, haters.”
But the comments kept coming
People weren’t just talking about plastic surgery – they were concerned about her health.
They pointed out her thinning hair and the yellowish tint in her eyes. One fan wrote, “Nobody is talking about plastic surgery. They are talking about your liver shutting down.” Michelle tried to shut down the rumors, but fans were still worried
Someone remarked, “Anyone with yellow eyeballs is not well and needs to see a doctor.”
Michelle was dealing with a health problem before her death
A source told TMZ that the Ice Princess star had a liver transplant sometime within the past year. The site also reported that officials believe she passed away from natural causes. Meanwhile, sources told Page Six she may have been dealing with complications from the transplant.
We’re sending love to Michelle’s family and friends as they navigate this tough period. Michelle brought so much warmth and talent to the screen, and she’ll be missed far beyond her roles.
Last Updated on March 1, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
