Michelle Trachtenberg's co-stars from Buffy The Vampire Slayer have expressed their condolences for their "little sister" following her untimely passing at the age of 39. The American actress, who also gained recognition for her role in Gossip Girl, was pronounced dead after emergency medical services responded to a call at One Columbus Place, New York, around 8 am on Wednesday, as reported by the city's police department.

Authorities have stated that her death is not being treated as suspicious, and the medical examiner will investigate the cause of death. A representative for Trachtenberg informed the PA news agency: "It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle has passed away. The family requests privacy during this difficult time. No further details are available at this moment."

Co-stars pay tribute

Emma Caulfield, known for her role as Anya Jenkins in the supernatural drama, expressed her sorrow over the loss of a "little sister" in a heartfelt post on her Instagram story, affectionately referring to the actress as "Mish Mish." Michelle Trachtenberg joined the acclaimed series in its fifth season, portraying Dawn, the younger sibling of Buffy, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Caulfield conveyed her condolences, stating, “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.”

Alyson Hannigan, who portrayed Willow Rosenberg in How I Met Your Mother, shared a collection of photographs featuring Trachtenberg, including nostalgic images from their time on set. She expressed her deep sadness regarding Michelle’s passing, noting, “She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.”

David Boreanaz, another co-star, shared a black and white image of Trachtenberg on his Instagram story, expressing his sorrow with the words, “So very sad. Horrible news.” James Marsters, who played the character Spike, described Trachtenberg as “a beautiful soul” and posted a selfie of them together on Instagram. He remarked, “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 left 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.”

This comes after Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, announced earlier this month via social media that she is “on the path” to reviving the show, collaborating with a team of “four unbelievably talented women.” Kim Cattrall, known for her role in Sex And The City, also paid tribute by sharing a photo of the two from the film Ice Princess, stating, “Rest in peace sweet Michelle.”

Ed Westwick, Trachtenberg’s co-star from Gossip Girl, who portrayed Chuck Bass, expressed his condolences on social media by stating he was “sending prayers.” He accompanied his message with a photograph of Trachtenberg in her role as Georgina Sparks. In the series, Trachtenberg depicted a young socialite from Manhattan’s Upper East Side, notorious for her disruptive antics, including blackmailing Serena van der Woodsen, played by Blake Lively, among various other schemes. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in Harriet The Spy, described the news of her passing as “heartbreaking.” She remarked, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped,” in her statement.

Who was Michelle Trachtenberg?

Born on October 11, 1985, in New York City, Trachtenberg commenced her acting career at the tender age of three, initially featuring in advertisements before transitioning to television roles. In 1992, she obtained a recurring part in the children's sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and in 1996, she played the lead in the film Harriet the Spy, portraying an 11-year-old who engages in spying on her neighbours and classmates while fabricating extravagant tales to enhance the mundane entries in her journal.

Additionally, she gained recognition for her role as Penny in the 1999 spy film Inspector Gadget and as Jenny in the 2004 film EuroTrip. In 2005, she appeared alongside Cattrall in Ice Princess and later starred in the 2009 teen comedy 17 Again with Zac Efron. More recently, Trachtenberg reprised her character in the second season of the Gossip Girl sequel.

The actress, who was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, shared with the XOXO podcast hosted by Jessica Szohr that during her twenties, she was acquainted with numerous individuals from the Upper East Side, who bore striking resemblances to the characters in Gossip Girl and were immersed in that lifestyle, remarking that "some were actually more scandalous than the show portrayed."

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