The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has officially determined that actress Michelle Trachtenberg died from complications of diabetes mellitus. Her death, ruled as natural, occurred on February 26, 2025, when she was found unresponsive in her Manhattan apartment at the age of 39.
Initially, the cause of death was listed as undetermined due to her family’s objection to an autopsy, citing religious reasons. However, subsequent toxicology tests provided sufficient information to establish the cause without a full autopsy.
Trachtenberg had reportedly undergone a liver transplant in 2024 and was open with close friends about her ongoing health struggles. Sources described her as “really, really sick” and noted that she had been emotionally and physically unwell in the year leading up to her death.
Best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg began her career as a child actress in Harriet the Spy. Her passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike. Sarah Michelle Gellar, her Buffy co-star, shared a heartfelt message, writing, “Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you.”
Trachtenberg’s death serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of managing chronic health conditions and the impact they can have, even on those in the public eye.
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