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The sudden death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg has come as a shock to everyone. The Gossip Girl actress was found unresponsive in her New York apartment on Wednesday afternoon by her mother, Lace Tractenberg. Emergency responders arrived following a distress call, but she was later declared dead.
Tributes have been pouring in from fans and across the entertainment industry. Among those mourning her death is her Harriet the Spy co-star, Rosie O'Donnell, who said in a statement:
"I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,"
Before the star's passing, many fans took to social media to raise concerns about her well-being. Many speculated that she was unwell, prompting Trachtenberg to post a message.
"Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have [to] hate? Get a calendar.”
Michelle played the role of a young girl aspiring to be a spy, with her nanny (played by O'Donnell), supporting her ambitions in the 1996 film adaptation of the novel of the same name. In an interview with Uproxx, the Kennedy Killer actress talked about how she formed a strong bond with O'Donnell, recalling how special she made her feel while on set.
"I probably bonded with Rosie the most. She was very caring, and so funny. When we had to be serious for a scene we would, but we always went back to giggling and playing games when that scene was done. She was a very giving actor, even off camera."
Michelle Trachtenberg's other co-stars pay their tributes
Many others have also shared their heartfelt condolences. Bronwen Hughes, the director of the movie Harriet the Spy, paid tribute to Michelle in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
He said:
"Michelle was like a lightning bolt of a casting discovery. She had fire, she had spark, she had truth, and she had Harriet’s conviction, like her sense of self. No one else came in the room like that. So she had that acting gene that you can’t really teach. It’s innate, which is not something you find very often.”
J. Smith-Cameron, who played Michelle's mother in the movie, also made a statement following her passing:
"I played Mrs. Welch, Harriet’s mother in Harriet the Spy. Michelle had been on a Nickelodeon show called Adventures of Pete & Pete but this seemed to be her first lead film role. She was so excited. Her natural ebullient nature was ratcheted up into giddiness as she tried to learn how to handle all that came with that. She was a very charming little girl." said the Succession actress.
Kim Cattrall, who was Michelle's co-star in Ice Princess, wrote a sweet message dedicated to the late actress.
"Rest in peace sweet Michelle." she wrote.
Other stars that paid her a tribute included, James Masters, her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" co-star, he said:
"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."
Actress Alyson Hannigan composed a touching tribute, accompanied by pictures of the two from over the years. She wrote:
“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.”
Blake Lively, who was Michelle Trachtenberg's co-star in the hit series, the Gossip Girl, also composed a touching tribute that she posted on her Instagram Stories.
"This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, faced authority head-on when she felt something was wrong, and cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes."
The cause of her death has not yet been confirmed by the authorities, although according to reports, the actress underwent a liver transplant operation a few months back. No foul play is suspected at this time, and the case is still being actively investigated.
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