Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, was confirmed dead after emergency medical services arrived at One Columbus Place, New York on Wednesday
Michelle Trachtenberg had a “huge heart” and was “fiercely loyal” to friends, actress Blake Lively said.
The Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl star died aged 39 on Wednesday after police were called to a luxury apartment complex on Central Park South, New York City.
The actress recently underwent a liver transplant and may have been experiencing complications, it is understood. In recent months, she had posted on Instagram a series of concerning photos, in which she looked noticeably thin and frail.
Lively, 37, posted a picture of her alongside Trachtenberg on Instagram on Wednesday night, with a lengthy tribute. Lively had a lead role in Gossip Girl for five years, working alongside Trachtenberg, who played a recurring character between 2007 and 2012.
Lively wrote: “Everything she did, she did 200%. 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.”
She added: “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.”
The actress’ passing is not being treated as suspicious and the police said the medical examiner will determine the cause of her death. A representative for Trachtenberg said: “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.”
Trachtenberg, from New York City, played young socialite Georgina Sparks of Manhattan’s Upper East Side who created havoc throughout the show, blackmailing Serena van der Woodsen (Lively), among other schemes.
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 Sparks.
Her Buffy The Vampire Slayer co-stars also paid tribute to their “little sister”. 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”.