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Michelle Trachtenberg, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, died at 39. Her career spanned decades. Starting as a child actress Trachtenberg eventually performed in various forms of filmography that included television, movie, and voice acting.
One of the most interesting aspects of Trachtenberg’s career was her potential link to Twilight. In a past interview with US Weekly, the actress said she was on the list to play Bella Swan, the franchise’s female lead, a role which was ultimately portrayed by Kristen Stewart. She said:
"There was definitely interest here and there because there's only so few pale girls in Hollywood"
Michelle Trachtenberg had a past history with Twilight’s director, Catherine Hardwicke, who had already directed her in Thirteen. However, she had scheduling conflicts and was already committed to other projects which supposedly led to her not playing the role.
On February 26, 2025, Michelle Trachtenberg was discovered unresponsive in her New York City apartment. The authorities confirmed her death, saying that there was no suspicion of foul play, as per Yahoo News.
According to ABC News, She was recently in the hospital for a liver transplant surgery and it is speculated that complications from her liver issues may have led to her untimely passing.
A look into Michelle Trachtenberg’s early career and legacy
Born in New York City in 1985, Michelle Trachtenberg entered the entertainment industry at the age of three. In her initial days, she appeared in more than 100 commercials, before having her first regular television role on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete in 1994.
According to an article by 9Honey Celebrity, it was her role as Harriet in Harriet the Spy (1996) that really pushed her into the spotlight. She became the lead in Nickelodeon’s first feature film.
Trachtenberg was later cast in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 2000, playing Dawn Summers, younger sister to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy. During its three-season run, she became an integral part of the Buffy universe, winning both critical and fan acclaim.
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Apart from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Trachtenberg was active in movies and voice acting. She appeared in the teen comedy, EuroTrip (2004), and the Disney sports drama, Ice Princess (2005). She also portrayed Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, a character she reprised in the HBO Max reboot of the show in 2022 and 2023.
Michelle Trachtenberg also provided her voice to characters in Robot Chicken and Human Kind Of. In 2021 she hosted Meet, Marry, Murder, a true crime series on Tubi.
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