Michelle Trachtenberg, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, dead at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, recognized for roles in exhibits together with Gossip Lady and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 39, according to reports.

Her physique was reportly found at dwelling in New York by her mom early on February 26, and authorities are cited as saying they aren’t contemplating the dying to be suspicious. She had lately undergone a liver transplant, and it’s believed by folks near the state of affairs that problems from that surgical procedure is perhaps accountable; an post-mortem is anticipated to verify trigger of dying.

Trachtenberg was a longstanding presence on tv for a era, showing on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete in 1994 at age 8; she’d go on to grow to be recognized to style followers as Buffy’s youthful sister Daybreak in the WB/UPN sequence Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the remaining seasons of the present. It’s arguably her most recognizable position outdoors of Georgina Sparks, the untrustworthy (of course) socialite and former good friend of Serena van der Woodsen from the CW’s Gossip Lady, a recurring position all through the sequence’ heyday. In later years, she’d be seen guesting on every thing from Home and Legislation & Order: Prison Intent by forgotten medical drama Mercy and Showtime’s Weeds.

The actor additionally made quite a few films, together with the 2006 remake of horror slasher Black Christmas, and Gregg Araki’s Mysterious Pores and skin, enjoying the finest good friend of Joseph Gordon Levitt’s foremost character Neil. (She was additionally Penny in the dwell motion Inspector Gadget film in 1999, an iconic position for anybody in the know.)

Trachtenberg’s dying comes as a shock — she was so younger — and additionally a tragedy, because it felt as if the business was beginning to lastly notice how gifted she was as soon as once more after a while in the wilderness; she’d lately made an look in the rebooted Gossip Lady, and was at the heart of 2024 film Spiral. She is survived by her household, and will likely be missed by followers and mates alike.