Michelle Trachtenberg Was 'Really Sick' and 'Struggling' Last Year Prior to Her Death, Says Source
Michelle Trachtenberg reportedly experienced "hardships" prior to her abrupt demise. The Gossip Girl veteran was discovered lifeless in New York City at age 39 on Wednesday, Feb. 26. PEOPLE's informant states that Trachtenberg felt "deeply depressed emotionally" during the previous year. The actress also confronted "medical problems" simultaneously.
"She confided in companions about her difficulties," reveals the informant. "She battled severe illness and discussed her struggles candidly with her inner group." According to this insider, Trachtenberg physically appeared "blanched, emaciated" and "extremely skinny."
Law enforcement answered an emergency call at 1 Columbus Place in New York City approximately 8 a.m. on Feb. 26, as the NYPD verified to PEOPLE. "Officers discovered an unresponsive 39-year-old woman upon reaching the scene. Medical teams arrived and declared the individual dead. Foul play is not believed to be involved." Authorities continue their examination of the case.
The New York Post initially published the news. PEOPLE discovered Trachtenberg had lately received a liver replacement. An informant told ABC News this procedure possibly resulted in health complications.
While Trachtenberg never openly disclosed any medical conditions, she addressed critics questioning her health following an Instagram selfie posted January 2024. "Interesting information. This represents my actual face," she wrote beneath a subsequent image. "Not undernourishment no ailments. Why express negativity? Obtain a time-keeping device." Later, she posted: "I've noticed numerous remarks lately concerning my physical appearance. I haven't undergone cosmetic procedures I remain joyful and fit. Examine yourselves critics."
Trachtenberg began her career filming advertisements before securing spots on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete and All My Children at age 9 in 1993. She later headlined Harriet the Spy in 1996, then portrayed Dawn Summers, Buffy's younger sibling, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Between 2008 and 2012, Trachtenberg embodied Georgina Sparks, a recurring personality on the popular series Gossip Girl. She revisited this character for two episodes of the Max revival in 2023, marking her final television performance.
