Michelle Trachtenberg, Buffy’s Dawn, Dies at 39: Tributes Pour In

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Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, most recognized for portraying Dawn Summers on the popular series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” passed away at the age of 39.

Found Unresponsive in New York City

911 was dialed from a luxury apartment building in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning, prompting a police response. Upon arrival, officers discovered Trachtenberg in an unresponsive state, later confirmed deceased by paramedics at the site. Authorities are not considering suspicious circumstances, instead, the Medical Examiner of New York City is examining the cause of her death.

According to reports, it was her mother who found her in distress and contacted emergency responders. Sources close to ABC News suggest that she might have experienced rejection of a recent liver transplant.

A Career That Spanned Decades

1985 saw the birth of Trachtenberg in New York City. At just three years old, she ventured into acting through commercials. Her early TV appearances include roles in ‘All My Children’ and Nickelodeon’s ‘The Adventures of Pete & Pete’. In 1996, she bagged her first significant film role, portraying the main character in ‘Harriet the Spy’.

In the year 2000, she became part of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” playing Dawn Summers, the little sister to Buffy, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar. This role solidified her reputation as a beloved figure in cult television.

In the time span after that, she made an appearance in the comedy “EuroTrip”, took on a leading role in Disney’s “Ice Princess”, and more recently played Georgina Sparks in “Gossip Girl”, a character notorious for stirring up trouble among the high society of Manhattan. Additionally, she has been part of productions such as “17 Again”, “Black Christmas”, and “Mysterious Skin”.

Her last social media post was on Feb. 18.

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A post shared by Michelle Trachtenberg (@michelletrachtenberg)

Tributes from Hollywood

Several of Trachtenberg’s former co-stars and colleagues shared tributes.

Blake Lively, a former co-star from the show “Gossip Girl“, remarked, “She possessed an electric energy. The atmosphere would shift noticeably whenever she walked into a room.

David Boreanaz, a fellow star from Buffy, expressed, “Extremely saddened… terribly unfortunate. Rest In Peace and thoughts go out to her and her loved ones.

As a fellow movie enthusiast, I too join the chorus of those expressing my heartfelt condolences following the sad news about [the actor’s name]. Kim Cattrall, Kenan Thompson, Melissa Joan Hart, and James Marsters, among others, have also shared their sympathies.

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A post shared by Kim Cattrall (@kimcattrall)

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A post shared by Kenan Thompson (@kenanthompson)

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A post shared by Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart)

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2025-02-27 07:32