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LAST UPDATE | 27 Feb
TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to Michelle Trachtenberg, the actress best known for roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, following her death at the age of 39.
Trachtenberg was confirmed dead after emergency medical services arrived at One Columbus Place, New York, following a call at about 8am on Wednesday, the city’s police department said.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious and the police said the medical examiner will determine the cause of her death.
A representative for Trachtenberg told the PA news agency: “It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Blake Lively, who starred as Serena van der Woodsen alongside Trachtenberg in Gossip Girl, shared a statement on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair. “Everything she did, she did 200%,” she wrote.
“She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.
“Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday. Hold those you love and have loved dear.”
The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.
Fellow Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on the show, said he was “sending prayers” in a post to his social media, featuring a picture of Trachtenberg as socialite Georgina Sparks in the show.
Her Buffy The Vampire Slayer co-stars also paid tribute to Trachtenberg.
Emma Caulfield, who starred as Anya Jenkins in the supernatural drama, said the cast had “lost a little sister” in a post shared to her Instagram story where she referred to the actress as “Mish Mish”.
Trachtenberg joined the hit show in its fifth season as Dawn, the younger sister of Buffy, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Caulfield wrote: “I’m so sorry your bright light died so young. Our Buffy family lost a little sister today. Rest in peace lovely Mish Mish. You were loved.”
How I Met Your Mother actress Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow Rosenberg, shared a series of photos of Trachtenberg including old pictures from when they shared scenes.
She said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.”
James Marsters, who played British vampire Spike, said Trachtenberg was “a beautiful soul” and shared a selfie of the two together on Instagram.
“My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.
“My heart goes out to her family who are good people and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear. I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time. Godspeed Michelle. You are missed.”
It comes after Buffy actress Sarah Michelle Gellar announced in a social media post earlier in the month that she is “on the path” to reviving the show, alongside a team of “four unbelievably talented women”.
Another star paying tribute was Sex And The City actress Kim Cattrall who shared a photo of the two from the film Ice Princess.
“Rest in peace sweet Michelle”, she said.
US comedian Rosie O’Donnell was in Harriet The Spy with Trachtenberg and said her death was “heartbreaking”.
“I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped”, she said in a statement.
Born on 11 October 1985, in New York City, Trachtenberg began her acting career at the age of three, appearing in adverts before landing roles on TV series.
She secured a recurring role in Nickelodeon’s The Adventures Of Pete & Pete in 1992 and in 1996 she starred in film Harriet The Spy as an 11-year-old given to spying on neighbours and classmates, and concocting outrageous lies to embellish the everyday details in her private journal.
The American actress was best known for playing Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s younger sister Dawn Summers, and later as socialite Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl.
In 2000, Trachtenberg entered hit show Buffy in its fifth season as Dawn, the younger sister of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s action hero, and became a regular until the show came to an end in 2003.
Talks for a reboot of the show, with Gellar set to take on a supporting role for a new vampire slayer, were at an early stage and it is not known if Trachtenberg may have played a part in the reboot.
The actress had only recently reprised her role as Georgina Sparks in the second series of the recent Gossip Girl sequel.
Aside from her main TV roles, she also had turns in comedy films including Inspector Gadget (1999) EuroTrip (2003) and in the 2009 teen comedy 17 Again alongside Zac Efron.
With reporting by PA
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