Michelle Trachtenberg, of 'Buffy' and 'Gossip Girl' fame, dies at 39

Michelle Trachtenberg, seen at the 2015 Women in Film Crystal+Lucy Awards in Los Angeles, was found dead Wednesday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 5 | Michelle Trachtenberg, seen at the 2015 Women in Film Crystal+Lucy Awards in Los Angeles, was found dead Wednesday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead Wednesday at her New York City apartment.

Police sources confirmed Trachtenberg's death to People, ABC and the New York Post. She was 39.

Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant. Police said the actress may have experienced complications from the procedure.

Trachtenberg came to fame as a child actor on the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete and Pete, the movie Harriet the Spy, based on the series of books, and the live-action Inspector Gadget movie as his niece, Penny.

She joined the cast of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer in Season 5 as Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister Dawn, who magically appeared.

After Buffy, Trachtenberg continued to star in movies like Eurotrip, Ice Princess, Black Christmas and 17 Again. She also had roles on the medical drama Mercy and teen drama Gossip Girl.

In addition to acting, Trachtenberg hosted the true crime series Meet, Marry Murder. She was active on Instagram as recently as Feb. 18.

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Pope Francis tours St. Peter's Square in his popemobile after bestowing the Urbi et Orbi blessing at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 20, 2025. Francis died at the age of 88 at his Vatican residence following a long illness on April 21. Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo

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