SAD NEWS: At the age of 39, “Michelle Trachtenberg”, former actress of ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ has just been confirmed by her family that she passed away due to… see more

Trachtenberg was found dead in New York City on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 26

Michelle Trachtenberg in 2020. Photo:JC Olivera/WireImage

Michelle Trachtenberg was reportedly “struggling” before her sudden death.

The Gossip Girl alum was 39 years old when she was found dead in New York City on Wednesday, Feb. 26. A source tells PEOPLE that in the year prior, Trachtenberg was “really down emotionally.” She also had been dealing with “health issues.

“She told friends she was struggling,” the source says. “She was really, really sick and open with those in her circle about how much she was struggling.”

Physically, the insider claims Trachtenberg looked “pale, gaunt” and “very thin.”

Michelle Trachtenberg in 2021. Chandler Allen/BFA.com/Shutterstock 

Around 8 a.m. on Feb. 26, police responded to a 911 call at 1 Columbus Place in New York City, the NYPD confirmed to PEOPLE. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased. Criminality is not suspected.” 

The investigation is still ongoing. The New York Post was first to report.

PEOPLE learned Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant. A source told ABC News that may have led to complications.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Although Trachtenberg did not publicly reveal any health conditions, she did respond to people questioning her wellbeing after she posted a selfie to her Instagram in January 2024.

“Fun fact. This is my face,” she captioned a follow-up post. “Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have to hate? Get a calendar.”

She then shared another post, 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 got her start in commercials before landing roles on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete and All My Children at 9 years old in 1993. She went on to star in Harriet the Spy in 1996, and then took on the role of Dawn Summers, Buffy’s little sister, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

From 2008 through 2012, Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks, a recurring character on the hit series Gossip Girl. In 2023, she reprised the role for two episodes of the Max reboot, which ultimately marked her last onscreen appearance.

Related Posts

BREAKING: Tsunami watch for west coast of the United States and Hawaii right now. Warnings for areas closer to Eastern Russia where an 8.7 magnitude earthquake has struck

HONOLULU – One of the strongest earthquakes ever measured struck off the eastern coast of Russia on Tuesday evening, triggering fears of a tsunami across much of the Pacific Ocean basin,…

Read more

NBC News reported: 30 minutes ago, in Midtown Manhattan, New York. A lucky survivor of the shooting recounted that “I rushed to the window to call for help and when I saw the police, I uttered 3 words that made the suspect… more

NBC News: Survivor’s Chilling Words May Have Triggered Shooter’s Final Act in Midtown Manhattan Tragedy Thirty minutes ago, a horrifying mass shooting unfolded inside a bustling office building in Midtown…

Read more

BBC News reports: 40 minutes ago, at least five people were killed in a shooting at a “huge” office building in midtown Manhattan, New York. The suspect was identified as ‘Shane D. Tamura’, a witness told police that among the victims was a very famous actor who had… more

BBC News Reports: At Least 5 Dead in Midtown Manhattan Shooting — Witness Claims One Victim Was a ‘Very Famous Person’ Just 40 minutes ago, tragedy struck the heart of…

Read more

SAD NEWS: 30 minutes ago, a shooting left 5 people dead in Midtown Manhattan, New York. At the same time, Whoopi Goldberg was confirmed by the police to be working with The View staff at the building and discovered she was in a state of … more

SAD NEWS: Midtown Manhattan Shooting Leaves 5 Dead — Whoopi Goldberg Reportedly Involved in Terrifying Scene Inside Building Just 30 minutes ago, chaos erupted in Midtown Manhattan as a deadly…

Read more

30 minutes ago, 5 people, including an NYPD police officer, were killed in a shooting in midtown Manhattan. The suspect has been identified as Shane D. Tamura, a Las Vegas resident. Before shooting himself, the suspect smiled and said something that made the police …. more

In a horrifying turn of events that shook Midtown Manhattan to its core, five individuals — including a member of the NYPD — were gunned down earlier today in a…

Read more

TRISTES NOTICIAS: Hace 40 MINUTOS en Texas, al menos 13 personas murieron en inundaciones históricas y más de 20 niños estaban desaparecidos en un campamento de verano para niñas después de una inundación repentina, incluida la hija de… Más

Una tragedia devastadora se ha desatado en Texas: inundaciones repentinas sin precedentes se cobraron la vida de al menos 13 personas y dejaron a más de 20 niños desaparecidos en…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *