Michelle Trachtenberg Dies at 39, Leaving Legacy in Film and Mental Health Advocacy

The actress, best known for roles in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Gossip Girl,' was found unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment; her death remains undetermined after her family declined an autopsy for religious reasons.

Michelle Trachtenberg passed away unexpectedly on February 26, 2025, at the age of 39, with no criminality suspected in her death.
The actress had recently undergone a liver transplant, and complications from the procedure are speculated but unconfirmed as a potential factor in her passing.
She was set to make a public appearance at a South by Southwest benefit screening for her final film, 'Spyral,' which addresses mental health struggles, before her sudden death.
Trachtenberg's family declined an autopsy for religious reasons, leaving the official cause of death undetermined, according to the New York City Medical Examiner's Office.
Tributes from co-stars and friends, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Blake Lively, highlighted her talent, compassion, and advocacy for mental health awareness.