Michelle Trachtenberg, the beloved actress known for her roles in Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gossip Girl, has died at the age of 39.
Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, confirmed her death in a statement on Wednesday, requesting privacy for her family during such a difficult time.
Police responded to a 911 call on early Wednesday morning at a luxury apartment building in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, where they found Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive.” Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. However, authorities ruled out foul play, with the New York Medical Examiner investigating the cause of death.
Career spanning decades
Trachtenberg began her career as a child actor, gaining fame at just 8 years old for her role as Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996). She rose to prominence as the titular character in the 1996 film Harriet the Spy, earning praise for her genuine and relatable performance.
Her career continued to flourish with roles in Inspector Gadget (1999) with Matthew Broderick and as Dawn Summers, the younger sister of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–2003).
She became a millennial icon with her role as the scheming Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl (2008–2012), earning a Teen Choice Award nomination for her portrayal of the fan-favorite villain. She reprised the role in the 2021 Gossip Girl revival.
Her film credits include Ice Princess (2005), EuroTrip (2004), 17 Again (2009), and Killing Kennedy (2013), in which she spoke Russian for 80% of her dialogue. She also appeared in episodes of Criminal Minds and Six Feet Under, as well as the NBC medical series Mercy (2009–2010).
More recently, she hosted the true-crime docuseries Meet, Marry, Murder on Tubi.
Michelle Trachtenberg’s career spanned decades, transitioning seamlessly from child star to teen icon and adult actor. Her performances in Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Gossip Girl left an indelible mark on pop culture, earning her a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim.
