Michelle Trachtenberg dead at 39: Buffy and Gossip Girl star passes away after sharing troubling posts

The Daily Mail ^ | 2/26/2025 | Eve Buckland

[ducttape45]

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg has died aged 39.

Her death is not being investigated as suspicious, police sources confirmed to the New York Post.

Trachtenberg was best known for her work as Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister Dawn Summers in 66 episodes of UPN teen supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer spanning 2000-2003.

[ducttape45]

I didn't see this posted anywhere here on FR. The cause of her death wasn't in the article.

[Valpal1]

All I know is that there was bad blood between her and Joss Whedon amid the Me Too rumors. This is going to stir that up again.

[where's_the_Outrage?]

From Eurotrip:

[Sarah Barracuda]

She had recently had a liver transplant..to already need a new liver at such a young age, makes you wonder if she was a heavy drinker..very sad she was a really good actress

[AFreeBird]

39 is way too young to kick the bucket.

[T.B. Yoits]

Does Scotty know?

[xp38]

It was further reported the actress recently underwent a liver transplant and 'may have been experiencing complications.' She is believed to have died of natural causes and police are not treating the death as suspicious, sources added to the New York Post.

[ducttape45]

I just saw that in a different article. Really makes you wonder. That poor girl went through so much bullying in her life. I hope she found the Lord before she left this world.

[Beowulf9]

39. So young. Saw she had a liver transplant. Wonder if it didn’t take.

Sad.

[Zathras]

More than a little shocked!

[TexasFreeper2009]

it is so sad what Hollywood does to innocent children. In any sane world, Hollywood would be sued for corruption of a child or something.

[struggle]

She was great in “The Adventures of Pete and Pete.” I used to love that show as a kid.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Regardless of the cause, liver problems requiring a transplant are nasty stuff.

[ducttape45]

I just saw that Roberto Orci has passed away as well. Kidney disease the article says. Man, they’re dropping everywhere!

[wildcard_redneck]

Eurotrip is a great movie.

[PGalt]

Condolences to family and friends of Michelle Trachtenberrg. Thanks for the links, ‘Civ.

[spacejunkie2001]

What the hell is natural about getting a new liver at 39? There’s nothing good or right or natural about that

[Hildy]

She had a liver transplant. It was probably due to that

[ChildOfThe60s]

When my brother was in the last stages of liver failure from Hep C, which I did even know about until late stages, I recall reading that transplant recipients had somewhere in the range of a 30% chance of getting Hep C from the donor liver.

I could be off some, not going to research it again, but it is high.